HOUSTON (AP) - The Latest on the shutdown of a security checkpoint at Houston’s William P. Hobby Airport (all times local):
7:45 a.m.
Authorities say it was a Boy Scout with a toy grenade in his bag that caused an explosives scare and security checkpoint shutdown at a Houston airport.
Houston Airport System spokesman Bill Begley says the 17-year-old had a “novelty grenade” in his bag early Thursday at Hobby Airport.
Houston police say the teen is not facing any state charges but could be subject to a federal fine.
Begley says the area was evacuated for about an hour before passengers were allowed to continue through the security checkpoint. More than a dozen flights were delayed.
The shutdown occurred a day after a bomb squad responded to Houston’s other airport, Bush Intercontinental, because of a passenger who made comments about explosives in a bag. That passenger was later detained by police but the international terminal was shut down for about an hour.
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6:20 a.m.
An airport spokesman says a toy grenade in a passenger’s bag caused a temporary shutdown at a security checkpoint at Houston’s William P. Hobby Airport.
Houston Airport System spokesman Bill Begley says passengers are being allowed to go through the checkpoint after the brief shutdown Thursday morning.
An Associated Press journalist who was in the security line shortly after 4:30 a.m. heard Transportation Security Administration yell “Shut it down!”
Hobby Airport is a hub for Southwest Airlines. The website FlightAware shows delays of an hour or more for flights arriving and departing Hobby Airport.
The shutdown occurred a day after a bomb squad responded to Houston’s other airport, Bush Intercontinental, because of a passenger who made comments about explosives in a bag. That passenger was later detained by police but the international terminal was shut down for about an hour.
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5:35 a.m.
Passengers catching early-morning flights have been told to evacuate Houston’s William P. Hobby Airport.
According to an Associated Press journalist going through the checkpoint, Transportation Security Administration workers shouted “Shut it down! Everyone leave!” at about 4:35 a.m. on Thursday, forcing hundreds of people to evacuate.
Police referred questions to a command center, which had no immediate comment.
The situation is developing only a day after police detained “an impatient passenger” who made comments about explosives in a bag at Houston’s Bush Intercontinental Airport. Houston Airport System spokesman Bill Begley said the unidentified passenger’s “inappropriate comment” prompted a bomb squad to close the international terminal for nearly an hour.
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