Update 2:15 p.m. KQED's Mina Kim was at the press conference at the airport and reports the following:
Airport spokesman Mike McCarron said suspicious items were detected at 11:17 a.m. by airport security. The SFPD bomb squad was called, and the security checkpoint, which serves Delta Airlines, was closed.
The bomb squad determined that the suspicious items were oxygen cylinders and a generator. The suitcase owner, an elderly woman in a wheelchair, was interviewed by police. She said that she was not aware of the items because did not pack them herself, a fact that had prompted the bomb squad to be called in.
Eight to ten flights were disrupted, serving 1,200 Delta passengers.
Angry Delta passenger Scott Kauffman said Delta did not hold flights or let passengers rebook on other airlines. He said his original flight was at noon, and now he won't be leaving until 10:30 p.m.
Update 1:35 p.m. A suspicious package shut down a boarding area in Terminal 1 at SFO today, but apparently the bomb squad found nothing dangerous...
ALL CLEAR given. Passengers now departing T1, Boarding area “C”#sfoincident
— flySFO (@flySFO) February 24, 2012
Upper Level Roadway to re-open shortly #sfoincident
— flySFO (@flySFO) February 24, 2012
Whatever was in woman's bag, "she didn't even know it was in there," say cops. We will find out what "it" is at 2:00 briefing
— Doug Sovern (@SovernNation) February 24, 2012
Earlier posts
An SFO Terminal 1 boarding area checkpoint has been closed as the San Francisco Police bomb squad checks out a suspicious package. Mina Kim spoke to airport spokesman Mike McCarron at 12:30 p.m. Here's what he said:
About an hour or so ago a package was going through Boarding Area C in Terminal 1. The screener didn't like what he or she saw and requested assistance from a supervisor, who agreed it was a suspicious package. They requested assistance from the San Francisco bomb squad, and as a result we had to close down the Boarding Area C checkpoint, which handles all Delta Airlines flights. We are setting up bus bridges to get people around so they get to their flights and off their flights. Right now we're just waiting for the bomb checks to clear the scene. It could be one hour, could be two hours.
KCBS' Doug Sovern is tweeting live from the scene, and you can also follow the latest info from the airport here.
Update 1:30 p.m.
All clear at SFO. Terminal 1 just reopened. Bomb squad satisfied there's no danger, did not detonate device. Delta flights still delayed
— Doug Sovern (@SovernNation) February 24, 2012
Update 1:15 p.m.
Whatever aroused the bomb squad's suspicion is being treated extremely seriously here. Cops are showing genuine concern. Massive response
— Doug Sovern (@SovernNation) February 24, 2012
Update 1:10 p.m. The airport will hold a press conference at 2 p.m.
Update 1:05 p.m.:
The Upper Level Roadway is now closed. ALL Arriving AND Departing passengers for all airlines use the lower level road way. #sfoincident
— flySFO (@flySFO) February 24, 2012
Departing Delta, Alaska, and Frontier passengers are advised to report to T1, Boarding Area “B” for secuirty screening. #sfoincident
— flySFO (@flySFO) February 24, 2012
Check that: robot still Inside, has *not* removed device yet. Bomb squad still setting up robots for removal of suspect device
— Doug Sovern (@SovernNation) February 24, 2012
