Kaua'i police at airport take precautions over suitcase

By Karen Blakeman
Advertiser Staff Writer

Kaua'i police removed a suitcase from United Flight 33 yesterday afternoon at Lihu'e Airport after federal officials in San Francisco notified them that a baggage handler had been detained for not properly checking it.

Kaua'i officers subjected the bag to airport security screening equipment and drug-sniffing dogs and were unable to find evidence of explosives or narcotics, police said. No one attempted to claim the bag.

Officers said they were told by federal officials in San Francisco that a baggage handler there had passed the bag to a second handler and asked him to put it on the plane.

The second handler did as he was asked, but became worried about his action. After the plane took off, he told his supervisor about the bag. Federal authorities were notified and Kaua'i police were called.

Police officers screened the bag when the flight arrived at 12:40. They did not open it.

They then allowed the bag to go through to baggage claim and watched to see who retrieved it.

No one from United Flight 33, the next flight out of San Francisco or any of the interisland flights that arrived at Lihu'e yesterday afternoon attempted to pick up the bag.

A police spokeswoman, Beth Tokioka, said the bag was locked up at the airport and would be turned over to federal authorities tomorrow.