Jacksonville Airport Reopens After Bomb Squad Removes "Destructive" Device

The airport was shut down for five hours, when authorities found two suspicious packages inside the terminal and a parking garage. Two men were allegedly taken into custody.

by Michelle Broder Van Dyke

BuzzFeed News Reporter

Posted on October 2, 2013, 4:18 am

ActionNewsJax
@ActionNewsJax
BREAKING NEWS: A bomb squad is inspecting packages in parking garage and terminal at #JIA.
http://t.co/cLpwKdBG2N
/ Via

The airport was closed at 6 p.m. forcing hundreds of outbound passengers to miss their flights, while arriving passengers were taken onto the tarmac and rushed away from the area.

Adrienne Moore
@AdrienneMooreTV
People being evacuated into the Tarmac at #JIA. Continuing updates @wjxt4.
/ Via

Two men were seen handcuffed in separate spots shortly before 6 p.m. A witness said he saw police throw a man to the ground outside the airport and then put him in handcuffs.

Vic Micolucci (WJXT)
@vicmicolucci
PIC of man in custody at JAX Airport. Unknown who he is or why cops grabbed him. Courtesy Allyson Schultz.
/ Via

ActionNewsJax
@ActionNewsJax
BREAKING NEWS: A viewer picture shows police detaining someone at #JIA.
http://t.co/cLpwKdBG2N
/ Via

The suspicious packages were found inside the terminal and in a parking garage. Police said one of the packages contained "a device that had to be rendered safe," but they did not give more information.

ActionNewsJax
@ActionNewsJax
BREAKING: #JIA terminal where suspicious package was found is secure, but there is still an ongoing, active search.
/ Via

Adrienne Moore
@AdrienneMooreTV
#JIA evacuated b/c of suspicious package. Viewer pic of people outside. Watch @wjxt4 for updates.
/ Via

When the airport reopened at 11 p.m. passengers were allowed to return for their luggage, but were advised by airport spokesman Michael Stewart to contact their airlines on Wednesday for new flight arrangements.

ActionNewsJax
@ActionNewsJax
BREAKING: Employees being allowed back into #JIA. Airport open. Device found.
http://t.co/Iuw11f8lnD
/ Via

Michelle Broder Van Dyke
BuzzFeed News Reporter
Michelle Broder Van Dyke is a breaking news reporter for BuzzFeed News and is based in Honolulu.
Contact Michelle Broder Van Dyke at michelle@buzzfeed.com.
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Jacksonville Airport Reopens After Bomb Squad Removes "Destructive" Device

This video apparently shows a man being removed from a plane as well.

View this video on YouTube