"Harmless science project causes Orlando airport delays"

Monday, March 31, 2003

Harmless science project causes Orlando airport delays
The Associated Press


A bag containing a harmless child's science project caused security
officials to delay flights at Orlando International Airport for two hours,
authorities said.

Eighteen flights and more than 2,000 passengers were delayed Sunday morning
after security personnel found what appeared to be a suspicious device
during luggage screening for a departing Southwest Airlines plane, airport
spokeswoman Carolyn Fennell said.

The science project used wires and electronic components and "looked like it
could have been an explosive," said Lauren Stover, a spokeswoman with the
Transportation Security Administration.

Stover would not elaborate on what was found and said: "We don't want to
give anyone ideas out there."

Both Stover and Fennell said there was no threat made at the airport.

Passengers in the northeast quadrant of the airport were evacuated, and for
nearly an hour no passengers were allowed to leave or enter the airport as
part of a security measures, officials said.

"This particular suspect device was detected during the normal screening
process," Fennell said. "A lot of people are scared to death, but they
shouldn't be. The system worked."

Among the airlines affected were Southwest, JetBlue, Spirit and AirTran.

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