Maui airport evacuation delays flights

By Curtis Lum
Advertiser Staff Writer

Kahului Airport was evacuated for about an hour yesterday afternoon after a routine swab of carry-on luggage tested positive for explosives. But the bag was claimed before it could be searched, and no explosives turned up anywhere in the terminal.

The incident began at 1:13 p.m. when at least one bag came up positive during a screening at a Transportation Security Administration checkpoint. But by the time the security officers noticed the positive result, the male passengers who owned the bag or bags had picked up their belongings and left, said Department of Transportation spokesman Scott Ishikawa.

TSA security officers searched the airport for about 45 minutes, but could not find the passengers, Ishikawa said.

At 2:05, the airport was evacuated while a sweep of the terminal was conducted. When the search came up empty, the airport was reopened about 2:55 p.m., according to Ishikawa.

TSA officials on Maui could not be reached for comment as to why the passengers were allowed to walk off with their bags before the explosive test was completed. Ishikawa said the incident was under investigation.

The shutdown forced nearly 500 passengers to leave the terminal. All of the passengers had to go through the screening process again before being allowed to board their flights.

Nine flights were delayed either leaving or landing on Maui, officials said.