Some Travelers Find MIA's "Security Incident" Very Troubling
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MIAMI (CBSMiami) – At Miami International Tuesday, some travelers found Monday night's "security incident," and ensuing havoc, troubling.
"If the wrong bag gets through, that's very troubling," said Courtney Knoll, returning to Miami from a vacation.
It began just after 5 p.m., after a passenger went through a TSA checkpoint on Concourse D.
"It was later determined that items in his carry-on bag looked suspicious," according to a statement from the FBI.
As security began to search for the man they shut down a section of the airport.
The airport closed Concourse D's two checkpoints, which affected about 10 gates.
Some passengers were literally locked in at a T.G.I. Friday's restaurant when law enforcement descended on the concourse.
Video and pictures posted on social media showed passengers on board a plane with their hands on the top of their heads as armed police officers escorted a man off it. The plane was then evacuated.
"The passenger was eventually located, questioned and his bag was searched. The items in question were deemed safe/non-hazardous," according to the FBI's statement who added that he was cooperative.
According to CBS4's news partner the Miami Herald, law enforcement indicated the man detained was a dentist and the "suspicious items" were dental equipment.
The FBI said the man was very cooperative and faces no charges.
The checkpoints were reopened around 8 p.m. By then 50 flights (28 departures and 22 arrivals) had been delayed and nine other arrivals were diverted.
Phil Moeller, a traveler, said he hopes the TSA will use the Monday night incident as a teaching moment.
"I hope that they can better serve passengers, and trust that this kind of attention can help get them there," Moeller said.
Another passenger was more cynical.
"It doesn't make you feel very comfortable, but it's something that happens. I'm sure, a lot more than we know," said passenger Marian Craver.
Her cynicism is supported by a government report.
In June, auditors said that undercover agents were able to get contraband, including explosives and mock guns, through TSA security checkpoints undetected 95 percent of the time.