A significant security alert at Miami International Airport on Thursday evening plunged travel operations into chaos, resulting in extensive evacuations and leaving numerous Bahamian passengers stranded. The incident commenced shortly after 5:00 PM when airport authorities received reports of an unattended piece of luggage classified as a “suspicious item” on the departures level of a terminal.
In response, U.S. security personnel implemented immediate emergency protocols, evacuating all individuals from the surrounding area as a precautionary measure. Eyewitness accounts described scenes of confusion and anxiety, with travelers being ushered outside the terminal as police and specialized task forces secured the vicinity.
The disruption severely impacted Bahamasair operations. Passengers scheduled to depart from Miami faced chaotic check-in scenarios, while those aboard an arriving flight from New Providence were confined to their aircraft for approximately three hours. The flight, which had landed at 6:10 PM after a 40-minute journey, was unable to disembark its passengers until security clearance was ultimately granted around 7:40 PM.
This delay caused a domino effect, pushing back subsequent departures. One affected traveler noted that their intended 7:45 PM departure was rescheduled for between 9:00 PM and 9:30 PM. Airport operations gradually resumed normalcy following the official all-clear confirmation. Attempts to obtain an official statement from Bahamasair regarding the incident and their contingency response were unsuccessful prior to publication.