MIAMI – Dozens of flights at Miami International Airport were delayed Monday after authorities closed two security checkpoints to investigate a passenger's suspicious bag.
FBI Special Agent Michael Leverock said a passenger went through a security checkpoint just before 5 p.m. with an item later deemed to be suspicious found in his carry-on bag.
"In the process of transitioning other passengers to an adjacent screening lane, standard procedures were not adhered to and the passenger was allowed to depart the checkpoint and proceed into the terminal," TSA spokesman Mark Howell said.
MIA spokesman Greg Chin said people were evacuated from checkpoints two and three at Terminal D as authorities investigated.
The passenger, who was scheduled to be on American Airlines flight 2393 bound for Barbados, was questioned and his bag was searched. Leverock said the item in his bag was deemed safe.
Passengers on the flight were told to put their hands on their heads as a SWAT team boarded the plane and removed a man on board.
"He was looking down and the officer said, 'Sir, stand up,'" passenger Cheri McGuire told Local 10 News. "And he stood up and looked straight ahead. They absolutely knew who they were looking for because I heard one of them say to the effect of, 'That's him. We got him.'"
McGuire called the incident very frightening.
All airport roadways that were closed during the investigation were reopened, and operations at the airport returned to normal about 8 p.m.
Chin said a total of 22 arriving flights and 28 departing flights were delayed by the investigation.
Leverock said the passenger was cooperative and doesn't face any charges.
According to ABC News, the passenger is a dentist and was carrying dental tools. The FBI would not confirm what was found inside the man's bag.
"Consistent with standard operating procedures, TSA is conducting a full after-action review of the response," Howell said. "TSA is taking this incident seriously and will retrain employees as necessary to ensure compliance with standard operating procedures."
Follow Local 10 News on Twitter @WPLGLocal10