Smoking Suitcase At Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport Forces Evacuation

November 13, 2007

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A gate was evacuated at Sky Harbor airport after smoke was seen coming from a suitcase in the cargo area.

US Airways Flight 200, a 10 a.m. departure to San Antonio, was getting ready to board at Terminal 4 when baggage handlers loading suitcases onto the plane noticed a bag that was smoking “a little bit,” airline spokesman Phil Gee said.

The bag handlers felt the hot bag and extinguished a small fire before the bomb squad arrived, said Capt. Victor Rangel of Phoenix Fire Department.

Only Gate A-17 was evacuated and not the entire concourse.

The suitcase is being checked out by the Phoenix Fire Department’s hazardous material team, said Julie Rodriguez, spokeswoman for Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport.

The owner of the suitcase is being questioned by police. She told the fire department that â€œit’s just toiletries,â€ Rangel said. The bag was coming from connecting flight and likely was screened at a different airport.

There were no other flight delays. The airline has moved the plane and passengers to another gate and delayed the departure until about 11:15 a.m.

The security incident comes a week before the start of what is traditionally the biggest travel season of the year. As many as 150,000 people pass through Phoenix Sky Harbor’s gates each day during the Thanksgiving weekend.

The Transportation Security Administration will investigate the incident only if there are explosives involved, said Nico Melendez, spokesperson for TSA.