Bakersfield Airport Closed Down Due To Hazardous Material Found In Suitcase

Hmmm, disturbing news out of California:

TSA officials and county authorities are investigating a suspicious substance at Meadows Field Airport that sickened two TSA officials. Authorities say they have tested the substance, and it is believed to be hazardous, so they have shut down and evacuated the airport.Kern County officials got the call at 7:29 a.m. on Tuesday, that a suspicious substance had sickened two TSA officials, causing some nausea and other sickening symptoms. Those TSA officials are being treated on the scene while the Kern County Sheriff’s Department, the fire department, and a hazmat crew investigate.Sean Collins with the Kern Co. Fire Dept. said they cannot confirm what the hazardous material is, but the Kern County Sheriff’s Department confirmed that it was contained in some type of bag.

Collins said the two affected TSA officials were overcome by fumes when they retreated and called in officials. Meadows Field remains shut down at this time, and passengers and personnel have been evacuated to the airport parking lot.

Fox News is reporting that no explosives have been found, and the TSA does not believe the incident is terror related,  suggesting that there could be an innocent explanation. The substance thus far has not been identified.

The passenger has been detained. No word, yet on his ethnic origin.

UPDATE:

Oh lordy….5 soft-drink bottles full of honey? honey?

Fox News reports: California Authorities Say Bottles of Honey Caused Airport Shutdown

Authorities say the suspicious material inside luggage that prompted the shutdown of a California airport turns out to be five soft drink bottles filled with honey.

Kern County Sheriff Donny Youngblood says the bottles, found inside a checked bag at Bakersfield’s Meadows Field, had tested positive for traces of an explosive.

Youngblood says investigators are trying to determine whether there was something in the honey or on the bag that caused security alarms to go off shortly before 7:30 a.m. Tuesday.