LOS ANGELES (CBS) — A U.S. Army soldier has been charged with trying to sneak powerful plastic explosives aboard an airliner headed to Los Angeles.

The U.S. Attorney’s office said on Friday that Transportation Security Administration screeners at the airport in Yuma, Arizona, spotted about a quarter-ounce of C-4 explosives in Pfc. Christopher Eric Wey carry-on luggage.

“Private Wey had been in Yuma, he’s a member of the military base there for an explosives training course that had lasted about 7 weeks, and they were learning how to use explosives like C-4 and others,” said U.S. Attorney’s spokesman Robbie Sherwood.

The FBI said Wey stole unexploded C-4 from a field exercise.

Wey reportedly told agents he wanted to show it to his family, and officials said there is no evidence he intended to use the explosives to harm anybody.

Despite the small quantity, an expert said the C-4 would have likely injured any passengers nearby if it had exploded.