Bomb scare at Sarasota Bradenton International Airport causes temporary evacuation

MANATEE -- Officials at Sarasota Bradenton International Airport briefly set up a temporary evacuation zone in the airport terminal shortly after 1 p.m. Tuesday after Transportation Security Administration personnel became concerned a set of baggage seemed to show signs of containing explosives.

Within an hour, TSA determined the baggage posed no threat and sent it and its owners on their way.

The bags were flagged as suspicious, according to Fredrick "Rick" Piccolo, airport CEO. People inside the terminal were moved outside a 300-foot evacuation zone for less than a half hour while the baggage was removed.

Piccolo said the baggage was transferred to TSA baggage screening behind the terminal for additional inspection. After that, operations returned to normal.

The situation was cleared by 2 p.m. Only one flight was delayed for 10 minutes, he said.

The baggage was thoroughly checked by TSA. Security personnel at the airport X-rayed the bags and transmitted the images to TSA's Arlington, Va., headquarters.

Piccolo said if the bags had been found to contain threatening materials, a bomb squad would have been called in to further examine and possibly dispose of the contents.

Matt M. Johnson, Herald business reporter, can be reached at 941-745-7027 or on Twitter@MattAtBradenton.

This story was originally published April 12, 2016 at 11:23 PM with the headline "Bomb scare at Sarasota Bradenton International Airport causes temporary evacuation ."