Suspicious bag delays JWA flights

John Wayne Airport was evacuated for about an hour Monday as security

officials searched a suspicious piece of luggage, airport spokesman

Justin McCusker said.

Passengers were pulled out of the airport’s terminal at about 8:55

a.m. after officials with the federal Transportation Security

Administration realized a piece of carry-on luggage had not been

screened, McCusker said. Passengers who had boarded planes were asked

to exit aircraft and join other passengers outside the terminal to be

searched for any abandoned luggage.

Security personnel did not know which passenger owned the

suspicious luggage, McCusker said.

Representatives with the Transportation Security Administration

could not be reached for comment. The federal agency has screened

baggage at airports across the country since the Sept. 11, 2001

terrorist attacks.

Orange County Sheriff’s deputies assisted the evacuation, Lt. Hans

Strand said. Strand didn’t know whether anyone was arrested or if any

dangerous objects had been found.

Passengers reentered the terminal and boarded their planes at

about 10 a.m., after the terminal had been scoured by officials,

McCusker said. All bags were screened a second time, and although

some flights were delayed, no one missed a flight.