Nine CNBC TV crew members are charged with creating a false public alarm after 'trying to smuggle a fake pipe bomb' through Newark Airport for a stunt

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Nine members associated with the television crew who tried to sneak a fake explosive through Newark Liberty International Airport security on Thursday face numerous charges.

The nine charged by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey police were: Ruben M. Montenegro, Samuel Micah Berns, Jacob M. Towsley, Michael L. Palmer, William Oaks, Philip K. Nakagami, Carlos F. Gonzalez, Timothy S. Duff and Adolfo Lacola. 

They - aged from 26 to 51 - were charged with creating a false public alarm, interference with transportation and conspiracy.

Nine members of a television crew who tried to sneak a fake pipe bomb into Newark's Liberty were charged. Adolfo LaCola (right) and Mike Palmer were two of the nine

Stored inside a roller bag, the fake consisted of a motor, wires and PVC pipes, all signs that a pipe bomb was in the works, TSA released in a statement. 

The item inside the roller bag included a motor, wires and PVC pipes, which are all indicators of an improvised explosive device such as a pipe bomb, the TSA said in a statement. 

'This type of stunt is reckless, dangerous, uninformed and totally insensitive to the reality of the terror threat we face. It is the equivalent to yelling "Fire!" in a crowded theater or using a toy gun to rob a bank and then claiming that it was just a toy, just to see what happens,' said Tom Carter, TSA's Federal Security Director for New Jersey, to NJ.com.

'There is simply no excuse for trying to do something like this knowing it had the great potential to cause panic with the intention of turning that panic into a reality show.' 

A picture of the fake explosive device that was found in the bag of a television crew member 

All of the men were released without bail and claimed to work for a television network, even though none had press credentials, according to Port Authority police.

They face up to $13,000 for each violation to security, according to TSA. 

The television crew have been arrested after trying to film themselves taking a fake bomb made from vacuum cleaner parts through airport security.

According to Transportation Security Administration, police arrested the group at Newark's Liberty International Airport after officers detected a suspicious item in a carry-on bag.

The team, from a reality TV show called Staten Island Hustle, were detained at the New Jersey airport's terminal C at around 3pm on Thursday.

 Stored inside a roller bag, the fake consisted of a motor, wires and PVC pipes, all signs that a pipe bomb was in the works, TSA released in a statement

They were attempting to record the panic that they hoped would ensue when TSA officers found the device, an agency source told the Daily News.

The crew hired an engineer to construct the fake device but a TSA bomb expert happened to be at the security check and they were immediately detained, the paper reported. 

The TSA said the group 'attempted to intentionally carry through the security checkpoint an item in a carry-on bag that had all of the makings of an improvised explosive device. At the same time, others in the group covertly filmed the encounter'. 

TSA spokesperson Lisa Farbstein added: 'The preliminary investigation indicates that all were in collaboration and claimed to be working for a television network.

They - aged from 26 to 51 - were charged with creating a false public alarm, interference with transportation and conspiracy after being detained by police 

'The group did not make it past the checkpoint because TSA officers detected the item, which was concealed in a roller bag.'

A picture of the device obtained by CBS2 News shows that the device appeared to be composed of wires and portions of a vacuum cleaner.

Endemol Shine North America, the production company behind Staten Island Hustle, released a statement late on Thursday about the incident.

'We are looking into the details of what happened as a matter of priority and are in contact with relevant authorities on the ground,' said the company, which also produces MasterChef and The Biggest Loser.

The incident occurred at Newark's Liberty International Airport (File Picture) on Thursday 

'While this process is ongoing we are unable to comment further but in the meantime, we sincerely apologize for any disruption caused.'

According to CNBC's description of 'Staten Island Hustle' the show 'follows a group of animated, life-long friends and businessmen from Staten Island who've yet to come up with an idea or product too far-fetched for them to invest in.

'Without MBAs (or even college degrees) these men prove that grit, ingenuity, and street smarts may be the real key to success. Of course, it helps that somebody's always 'got a guy' with the right connection or a good hook-up.'