WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — The case against a Kansas man charged with plotting a suicide bombing at a Wichita airport is expected to return to federal court for a progress update.

U.S. District Judge Monti Belot has scheduled a status conference on Thursday for Terry Loewen, an avionics technician facing terrorism-related charges. Such proceedings are routinely used to keep the judge apprised of developments in the litigation.

Loewen was arrested in December and accused of trying to bring a van filled with inert explosives onto the tarmac at the airport, where he worked. His arrest followed a months-long sting operation.

He has pleaded not guilty to attempting to use a weapon of mass destruction, attempting to use an explosive device to damage property and attempting to give material support to al-Qaida.