Deputies Respond To St. Pete-Clearwater Airport Following Report Of Apparent Airborne Irritant. No Injuries.
Release Number: 09-275
Who:
Pinellas County Sheriff's Office
Patrol Operations Bureau
Transportation Security Administration (TSA)
Largo Fire Department Haz Mat Team
Pinellas Park Fire Department
What: Deputies responded to the St. Pete-Clearwater Airport following a report of an apparent airborne irritant at the security checkpoint area that was causing people to choke and cough. No one was injured during the incident. The source of the irritant was not identified.
Where: The incident occurred at the security checkpoint of the St. Pete-Clearwater Airport located at 14700 Terminal Boulevard in Clearwater.
When: The incident occurred at about 4:15 p.m. on Sunday, November 1, 2009.
How/Why: Deputies responded to the St. Pete-Clearwater Airport following a report of an apparent airborne irritant in the security checkpoint area.
Deputies were alerted to the matter by Transportation Security Administration (TSA) agents, who stated that the irritant was causing people to choke and cough severely.
Largo Fire Department Hazardous Material Team and Pinellas Park Fire Department responded.
Responding deputies immediately cleared the security checkpoint area. According to deputies about 50 people were exposed to the irritant. Deputies say that fire department personnel spoke to persons affected. No one needed medical treatment. No one was transported to the hospital.
According to deputies, the area was checked, but the source of the airborne irritant was not found and remains undetermined.
The security checkpoint area and airport were reopened and resumed normal operations at 5:25 p.m. on November 1, 2009.
|