Authorities ID Suspicious Item That Forced Evacuation At Metro Airport
ROMULUS (WWJ) - Authorities have released more information on the suspicious item found in a traveler's carry-on bag that forced the evacuation of Detroit Metro Airport's North Terminal on Monday.
The terminal was evacuated around 5:50 a.m. April 1 after a suspicious object was found at a Transportation Security Administration (TSA) passenger screening checkpoint.
Airport officials say further analysis of the contents of the passenger's carry-on bag revealed three electronic items duct-taped, wrapped, packaged and positioned together in such a way as to pose a possible explosive threat.
Officials say the passenger was interviewed at length regarding the suspicious packaging of these items and was eventually cited for disrupting the smooth and orderly flow of passengers, a misdemeanor charge, and released.
The passenger, who was temporarily staying in Detroit, had been living in Central America and was on his way to the Philippines via Seoul, South Korea, according to airport officials. He was not identified.
The evacuation of the North Terminal was taken as a precautionary measure until the item could be removed and analyzed by a bomb squad.
Hundreds of evacuated passengers were ushered over to the old Smith Terminal, which has been vacant since the North Terminal opened several years ago, while the bomb squad removed the item, which was found to be non-explosive.
The TSA screening checkpoint and North Terminal resumed normal operations by 8:20 a.m.
Airport officials say the response was "a strong team effort by Transportation Security Administration, Airport Authority Police, Federal Bureau of Investigation and airline personnel."
The investigation surrounding this incident is ongoing.
