Flight technician Terry Lee Loewen arrested for attempted SUICIDE BOMBING at Kansas airport

AUTHORITIES say a man accused of planning to detonate a car bomb at a Kansas airport has been arrested.

The charges against the man, identified as 58-year-old Terry Lee Loewen, include an attempt to use a weapon of mass destruction.

Loewen, who worked at the airport, was arrested on Friday moing on the airport's tarmac with a vehicle he thought contained explosives. The incident took place at Mid-Continent regional airport in Wichita.

US Attoey for Kansas Barry Grissom said the man had been under surveillance since earlier this year and had been given inert explosives by authorities during the investigation.

Loewen planned to "die in the explosion as a marter" said Mr Grissom. He allegedly studied the airport's layout, took photos of entry points and researched popular flight schedules.

Loewen was charged with one count each of attempting to use a weapon of mass destruction, attempting to damage property and attempting to provide support to the terrorist group al-Qaida.

Investigators say Loewen is an avionics technician who lives in Wichita and works at the airport. He had been under investigation for about six months after he made statements about wanting to commit "violent jihad" against the US.

Terry Lee Loewen, 58, was arrested on Friday moing at Mid-Continent regional airport

Officials with the US Attoey's Office and Federal Bureau of Investigation announced the arrest at a news conference Friday afteoon at the Epic Centre in Wichita. Kansas Goveor Sam Brownback also attended the news conference, his office said.

Wichita Police Chief Norman Williams described the case as "a major situation for our city that was averted" through a collaborative investigation.