Two inert grenades caused a halt to a Hawaii airport on Tuesday, after security personnel spotted them inside the bag of a Japanese man who was detained and released pending investigation.
According to a police press release, two grenades were found around 5:40 a.m. by security personnel at Hawaii’s Hilo International Airport during the security check before the flight, in the carry-on baggage of a Japanese man. The result was one hour of halting the airport’s operation. Police evacuated the terminal area on Tuesday morning while a bomb squad determined the grenades were inert, according to a Hawaii Police Department statement.
It is also possible that the grenades were realistic replicas. The Transportation Security Administration prohibits replicas of explosives, including hand grenades, in checked or carry-on luggage.
Police spokesperson Denise Laitinen said Wednesday she didn’t have additional information about the grenades being inert.
Police arrested 41-year-old Akito Fukushima from Kanazawa, Japan, on suspicion of first-degree terroristic threatening. He was taken to an east Hawaii detention facility and then released pending investigation, police said.
San Francisco Evacuation
An airplane evacuation happened in San Francisco on Friday due to a laptop emitting smoke, possibly catching fire, as one passenger reported injuries while exiting the plane.
An American Airlines flight from San Francisco to Miami was suspended and the passengers had to evacuate the plane through emergency slides and a jet bridge.
Two other passengers also reported minor injuries, according to the San Francisco Fire Department, which responded to the incident.
Crews reported the smoking laptop as passengers were boarding, the airline said.
American Airlines flight 2045 was scheduled to depart San Francisco at 12:15 p.m. for Miami.
Steve Kulm, a spokesperson with the Federal Aviation Administration, said the agency will investigate.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.