Monday, January 17, 2022

'Verbal' bomb threat shuts airport

UPDATE2: Authorities evacuated Jackson-Medgar Wiley Evers International Airport on Monday because of a verbal bomb threat before 11:30 a.m., airport officials said. Transportation Security Administration evacuated all passengers and airport staff, then closed the airport as a precaution, Federal Security Director Kim Jackson said. TSA operations at the airport said a man and woman drove up to the terminal, got out, and told TSA employees "There's a bomb in the airport," said Jackson. The duo left the airport, got into a vehicle and drove off. Law enforcement is searching for them and has security footage. Law enforcement agencies searched the airport for explosives, finding none. (Source: Clarion Ledger 01/17/22)

INITIAL STORY: The Jackson-Medgar Wiley Evers International Airport appears to have been evacuated Monday (Jan. 17) afternoon, according to passengers' tweets. The reason for the evacuation is not clear. Passengers are standing outside the airport in parking lots. The airport authority and Jackson Police have not returned a request for information from the Clarion Ledger. The evacuation delayed several trips and at least one Southwest Airlines flight to Houston was canceled, according to FlightAware, an online flight tracking tool. (Source: Clarion Ledger 01/17/22)

UPDATE1: WJTV News is reporting the Jackson Municipal Airport Authority (JMAA) reported that the airport received a “verbal security threat.” Officials reported the incident the Transportation Security Administration, which evacuated passengers and employees at the airport.

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