Bomb threat made at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International led to terminal evacuation
FORT LAUDERDALE — People were forced to temporarily evacuate Terminal 1 at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport on Sunday night after a reported bomb threat prompted a police response.
Travel Advisory: Due to a developing security-related incident, law enforcement has evacuated the upper level of Terminal 1 and temporarily closed #FLL's Departures entrance in an abundance of caution until further notice. Updates will be posted as more info is available.
— Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood Int'l Airport (FLL) (@FLLFlyer) December 17, 2023
Around 5:26 p.m., deputies with Broward Sheriff's Office Airport District responded to a report of a bomb threat at the terminal. As a precautionary measure, the upper level of Terminal 1 was evacuated.
Departures were delayed for just over an hour but travelers appeared mostly thankful for the law enforcement response.
"I think some people may not make it to their flights which is going to be very frustrating and I hope everybody just calms down and deals with the situation properly," said Jadyna Seelye.
According to the sheriff's office, an airline employee told deputies they heard a traveler say, "Call the cops, I have a bomb in my bag."
Tyler Baeder, 27, who was visiting from Rhode Island, reportedly made the statement after having trouble using a kiosk to check into his flight. The airline worker notified the TSA who called the sheriff's office.
Bomb squad and threat management investigators thoroughly searched Baeder's belongings and deemed the threat unfounded.
Baeder was taken into custody and charged with "false reporting concerning planting a bomb, explosive, or weapon of mass destruction" and one count of resisting an officer without violence