Joint Base Andrews was put on lockdown for about an hour at rush hour Thursday afternoon over a security incident that ended without injuries, base officials said.
Citing an Air Force official, ABC News reported that the incident involved a “woman claiming to have bomb,” though it turned out later that she did not.
NBC News reported that the woman was in custody.
According to the base’s Facebook page, the incident happened at the Visitor Control Center around 5:15 p.m. and brought “emergency responders” to the scene.
“The Main Gate is currently in lockdown. All personnel and residents should avoid the area until further notice,” the post said.
But by 6:30, ABC was reporting that “the incident at Joint Base Andrews is over.”
The Joint Base Andrews twitter feed said that despite the lockdown, “JBA missions have not been impacted, nor are flights being redirected.” It went on to say that “there is no impact to traffic on Allentown Road, civilian property or businesses around the area.”
Joint Base Andrews is in Prince George’s County just outside the Washington Beltway, about 15 miles from the White House. Since its time as Andrews Air Force Base, it has been known as the principal departure point for presidential flights and the home base of Air Force One.
• Victor Morton can be reached at vmorton@washingtontimes.com.
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