Baltimore airport evacuated after firearm scare

updated 11:41 a.m. ET Sept. 22, 2006

LINTHICUM, Md. - Security screeners discovered a firearm in a carry-on bag at Baltimore’s main airport Friday morning and two concourses were closed when its owner disappeared, authorities said.

Officials at Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport held onto the carry-on but its owner continued through the checkpoint and disappeared, airport spokesman Jonathan Dean said.

“We simply were acting with all due precaution,” Dean said.

Transportation Security Administration spokesman Christopher White said the bag belonged to a male passenger. He could not be located.

Concourses A and B, which serve Southwest Airlines, reopened after 90 minutes. Passengers were being required to go through screening again, Dean said.

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