Bomb scare briefly clears Miami airport

updated 10:28 a.m. ET July 16, 2007

MIAMI - A Miami International Airport terminal was briefly evacuated early Monday after authorities found what appeared to be an explosive device but turned out to be harmless.

A watch and other items were spotted in a box that at first appeared to be part of an explosive device, said Transportation Security Administration spokesman Christopher White. The box was in an X-ray machine scanning checked luggage near a United Airlines ticket counter, he said.

“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.

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.

The terminal serves United Airlines domestic and international flights. The evacuation delayed six flights, affecting about 2,000 passengers, airport spokesman Marc Henderson said.

More from msnbc.com When officials reject stimulus funds, sparks fly New Delhi's cowboys lasso loose bovines Cosmic Log: Gifts from the sixth dimension Looking for alien earths? Here they come Resume? Bah! Single tweet earns him a job Giving back for the holidays? Send us your pictures

MORE FROM SECURITY

Security Section Front

AP source: Feds eye NY trial for Gitmo suspect Feds have mixed record in terror probes Americans held in Pakistan straddled 2 worlds Source: Senior al-Qaida leader killed by drone CIA ends secret Blackwater missile contract Security Section Front   Add Security headlines to your news reader: