University Park Airport to reopen after suspicious contents of checked bag rendered safe

State College, PA (WJAC) — All flights at University Park Airport were grounded Friday afternoon, due to what the Federal Aviation Administration said was a "security concern," leading to an evacuation and the bomb squad coming in. The airport has since reopened, and we have updates regarding the reportedly suspicious items in a checked bag.

Douglas Braff also spoke with passengers whose flights were pushed till this morning.

University Park Airport on Saturday saw a good number of folks who were supposed to land here Friday flew in Saturday. Their flights were either redirected mid-air, delayed, or canceled before takeoff.

"I was on the flight coming from Chicago originally last night, which was canceled," passenger Jeff Lesco told 6 News on Saturday as he was at the UPA baggage claim. "So, it was rescheduled for this morning."

Penn State University spokesperson Lisa Marie Powers told us that at around 4:40pm Friday, the TSA alerted University Police about a checked bag bound for Chicago. She said that an x-ray of an item in the bag was flagged for a suspicious image.

Powers told us that about 100 passengers from the airport were evacuated and taken to campus.

However, for those who were already en route, like Joey Gardner, telling 6 News on Saturday as he waited for his luggage: "They [the flight crew] said, 'We're coming in your descent coming into State College.' And then about two seconds later they said, 'Oh, you know, some security breach or something,' and we have to turn around and go back to Newark."

"It was a pain in the butt," he said of it, "I mean, anytime you get delayed it stinks, you know?"

Although, Gardner noted that he appreciates that he and the passengers on his flight got hotel and food vouchers for their troubles.

As for the suspicious item in the bag, a TSA spokesperson told 6 News that the bag contained an electronic circuit board and power source. Shortly after 10pm on Friday, the spokesperson said that bomb technicians cleared the bag after they determined that there was nothing of danger inside. Law enforcement and explosives canine explosives units swept the terminal Friday night to prepare for the reopening of the airport this morning, according to the spokesperson.

Passengers with flights affected by the grounding told us the situation was inconvenient, but that they appreciate the authorities practicing "due diligence."

"I'm just happy to be home," Lesco remarked with a laugh.

It's worth noting that this is not the first incident of its kind in Pennsylvania recently, with a similar security scare in Allentown earlier this week. In that case: prosecutors say an explosive device was found hidden in the lining of a suitcase.

UPDATE 3 |

According to a TSA spokesperson, bomb technicians discovered that the bag contained a circuit board and a power source.

They said law enforcement explosives detection canines swept the terminal before the reopening of the airport.

UPDATE 2 |

Penn State Police say the situation has been resolved and there is no current threat:

"The Hazardous Device Team was able to render safe the suspicious contents of a checked bag at the University Park Airport. There is no current threat. The airport will return to normal operation at 4:00 a.m."

UPDATE |

Penn State University Police released the following statement:

"The University Park Airport remains closed for now to air traffic and passengers as an explosives device team works to X-ray the suspicious contents of a checked bag that was on a flight to Chicago. No estimate at this time for reopening of airport."

ORIGINAL |

Officials with the Federal Aviation Administration announced that all flights have been grounded at University Park Airport due to "security concerns."

Law enforcement sources say that the airport is reportedly shut down after a possible "explosive device" was discovered in a piece of luggage.

Sources say the bomb squad has been called to the scene.

"Earlier today (March 3) a suspicious item was detected in a checked piece of luggage at the University Park Airport," wrote Lisa Powers, the university's Senior Director of Strategic Communications, in a statement to 6 News. "Penn State University Out of an abundance of caution, the general passenger terminal was evacuated and the explosives device team and other responders are on site. There were no incoming or outgoing flights scheduled at the time of the evacuation. Buses from Penn State Transportation were brought to the airport to safely transport about 100 passengers to campus, where they are able to shelter and were provided with food."

No further details have been provided at this time and 6 News has a crew heading to the scene.

Stay with 6 News online and on-air for further updates.

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