Miami Terminal Evacuated after Bomb Scare

By The Associated Press

posted: 16 July 2007 02:58 pm ET

MIAMI (AP) -- A Miami International Airport terminal was briefly evacuated early Monday after authorities found what appeared to be an explosive device in a box that turned out to contain human remains, a watch and other items.

The box was in an X-ray machine scanning checked luggage near a United Airlines ticket counter, he said, Transportation Security Administration spokesman Christopher White.

"It was a collection of items that, in total, raised our officers' suspicions to a level of contacting the Miami-Dade (County police) bomb squad," White said. He declined to specify what other items were in the box.

The terminal serves United, AirTran Airways and other carriers. The evacuation delayed six flights, affecting about 2,000 passengers, airport spokesman Marc Henderson said.

Hundreds of passengers milled around on the median outside Terminal F with their luggage from about 5:45 a.m. until police gave the all-clear around 7:30 a.m.