Flights resume at Miami airport after bomb scare

MIAMI: Miami International Airport (MIA) resumed normal operations Sunday evening after authorities cleared a suspicious item that had prompted a precautionary evacuation of parts of the terminal.

The incident began shortly after 5 PM when the Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office (MDSO) received a report of unattended luggage at Door 21 on the Departures level of the South Terminal. Airport and law enforcement officials acted swiftly, evacuating travelers and staff from nearby TSA checkpoints, concourses G, H, and J, and the adjacent curbside areas as a safety measure.

 “The evacuation was conducted out of an abundance of caution while our Bomb Squad assessed the situation,” MDSO said. Around 7:40 p.m., the Bomb Squad declared the area safe, allowing operations to resume and TSA checkpoints to reopen. No injuries were reported.

MIA spokesperson Greg Chin advised travelers to plan for extra time due to temporary disruptions during the evacuation and confirmed that flights were gradually returning to schedule.

The incident coincided with widespread travel disruptions caused by a powerful winter storm affecting flights nationwide. While the suspicious luggage caused a temporary slowdown at MIA, authorities emphasized that the airport’s rapid response helped ensure passenger safety without incident.

 “Passenger safety remains our top priority,” Chin said. “We appreciate everyone’s patience as we worked closely with law enforcement to resolve the situation.”