PENSACOLA AIRPORT LOCKED DOWN

A suspicious item found inside a checked bag at Pensacola International Airport caused the airport to be shut down for several hours yesterday morning. Pensacola Police Department Public Information Officer Officer Mike Wood said a TSA agent located the cylindrical device inside luggage around 6:30 a.m. The device was taken away from the terminal area until it could be examined and all in-and out-bound flights were suspended. The Bay County bomb squad responded, and shortly before 9 a.m., determined it was not an explosive device. It turned out to be a ball bearing tester used in wind turbines and was carried by a passenger from Korea who did not speak English, which caused communication difficulties.