Stray bag shuts down airport

<p>The Gainesville Regional Airport reopened at about noon today after a piece of abandoned luggage was reclaimed by a passenger. </p><p>The airport terminal had been evacuated shortly before 8:30 a.m. after a piece of luggage was apparently abandoned near the recently renovated concession area. </p><p>Gainesville Police blocked non-travelers from entering the Gainesville Regional Airport as a precaution and called in the Alachua County Sheriff’’s Office bomb squad. The Transportation Security Administration took control of the scene and ordered all non-essential personnel out of the area.</p><p>There were about 30 employees but few passengers in the terminal at the time it was evacuated because the flight, which was due in around 9 a.m., had been cancelled earlier for unrelated mechanical reasons.</p><p>While the bomb squad was preparing to examine the luggage, a plane from Charlotte N.C. touched down. Departing passengers were picked up a few steps from the plane by RTS buses and driven to the long term parking lot area. The return flight to Charlotte was cancelled and after re-fueling the plane lifted off without taking on any passengers. </p><p>The passenger who allegedly abandoned the luggage returned to the airport by 11:30 a.m. and was escorted into the terminal to reclaim his bag and answer questions from police. It was unknown whether then man would face any charges.</p>