The Cyril E. King Airport was evacuated for about half an hour at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday after a suspicious bag was found in the U.S. Customs area.
The suitcase had been pre-cleared and was destined for an American Eagle flight, sources told WVWI/Radio One News. The station quoted aviation sources as saying something inside the bag was vibrating or making a ticking sound.
Port Authority police removed the bag from the terminal to a secure area. As of midday, there was no word as to its contents.
The evacuation notice was given over the airport terminal's public address system, directing all employees and passengers to leave the building immediately. Within half an hour, the building was declared safe and airport operations resumed.
Federal Aviation Administration officials at the airport control tower said the evacuation did not cause any serious problems for in-bound or out-bound air traffic. One arrival was held off for a few minutes until the terminal was declared safe, they said.
Port Authority public information officer Shirley L. Smith referred inquiries to O'Neal Moolenaar, chief of airport security, who could not immediately be reached.
