"Norfolk arrival terminal closed due to suspicious bag"

Sunday, March 11, 2007

Mist-spewing suitcase shuts down Norfolk airport terminal
By AMY COUTEE
The Virginian-Pilot 


NORFOLK - A suitcase that was emitting vapor forced officials to shut down
part of the Norfolk International Airport for three hours Saturday. 

At 1:30 p.m. a baggage handler noticed a mist coming out of an unattended
piece of luggage in the baggage claim area. Security officials couldn't find
the bag's owner, cleared the arrivals terminal and called State Police and
the city Fire Department. 

As people waited outside, passengers were given their luggage as they got
off their planes. 

Bomb technicians found an aerosol can inside the bag that had malfunctioned,
causing the strange emission.

The airport was re-opened at 4:30 p.m. 

"I don't remember us ever having to close that area of the building for that
length of time," said Wayne Shank, deputy executive director of the Norfolk
Airport Authority, who has worked with the airport for 35 years.

The owner picked up the bag later in the day from airport police.

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