SFO reopens after traveler ditches bag, prompting terminal evacuation
SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) -- San Francisco International Airport officials reopened Terminal 1 Wednesday after a traveler ditched a piece of luggage in a baggage terminal, prompting an evacuation.
Cell phone video and pictures from passengers show crowds of people outside terminal one after SFPD shut down parts of the first and second floors, a checkpoint and outer roadway for over an hour due to a suspicious piece of luggage.
A police K-9 had a positive response to the bag, which then led to the bomb squad being called to the airport. They discovered there was nothing but a comforter and clothing in the suitcase.
Police found that the owner of the bag was running late for his flight and decided he didn't have time to check his bag, so he purposefully abandoned it in the baggage claim area around 11:30 Wednesday morning.
He made it on his flight to San Diego. But, for people just arriving at SFO, it became a very confusing situation with a lot of baggage delays.
"That is so rude. It inconvenienced hundreds of people because someone didn't prepare to get to the airport on time," Oakland resident Moya Henderson said.
Southwest baggage employees said the incident shut them down for an hour and a half on an extremely busy travel day.
Because the K-9 had a positive response, the bag will be further tested to see if any illegal items may have been inside before Wednesday's incident. It will be up to the TSA to decide if the owner of the luggage will face any fines or other penalties.
