RDU's Terminal 1 reopens after anonymous bomb threat prompted evacuation
MORRISVILLE, N.C. (WTVD) -- Terminal 1 at Raleigh-Durham International Airport reopened Monday morning after an anonymous bomb threat prompted an evacuation and delayed flights for Southwest Airlines and Breeze Airways passengers.
Transportation Security Administration officials and RDU Airport Authority police received the threat early Monday, prompting them to clear Terminal 1 while investigators searched the area. Staff and passengers were forced to wait outside the terminal for nearly two hours during the investigation.
Some travelers were already aboard planes when the evacuation began.
"We were on the plane for like two minutes, and then TSA came and announced that there was a threat and everybody had to evacuate," traveler Sky Williams said.
Williams said passengers were escorted out of the terminal just before 4:30 a.m. and were given little information while they waited outside.
"There was no information given. A lot of people thought it was a test," Williams said. "It was upsetting seeing little kids cry. Everyone was worried."
Airport officials said the threat was anonymous and was treated seriously as a precaution. Airlines sent alerts to early-morning passengers notifying them of delays and changes.
Cheryl Conley, who was scheduled to depart around 6 a.m., said her flight time continued to shift.
"They let me know we had a delay, and then about an hour later they told me it would be two more hours," Conley said.
RDU security teams, including K-9 units, searched the terminal before allowing staff to return inside just before 6 a.m. Officials later gave the all-clear for passengers to reenter.
Even after reopening, travelers arriving at Terminal 1 encountered long security lines as operations resumed.
"It's concerning, but I have to put my faith in the people here knowing what they're doing and not add to the chaos," traveler Kim McKellar said.
Airport officials said no threat was found.
