'Suspicious' Package at Airport

By: Wade Phillips - Email

Updated: Fri 12:21 AM, Aug 17, 2012

A suspicious package left in the bushes near the terminal of Meridian Regional Airport Thursday afternoon turned out to be harmless.

The Meridian Police Department, Mississippi Highway Patrol, Meridian Homeland Security, TSA, and the airport authority responded around noon and later found the baggage to contain regular luggage items.

The 1 p.m. Delta flight landed and was delayed 30 minutes until the terminal reopened. The person who left the baggage outside the terminal will not be facing any charges.

"Frankly I don't know that there's anything for him to be charged with," said airport authority president, Tom Williams. "There was nothing in the bag that was illegal or suspicious or a problem. He just left his bag somewhere and probably intended to come back and get it, would be our guess."

Unattended bags and items are treated as 'suspicious' as a precaution. All airports have standard messages not to leave your bags unattended.

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