Unattended bag prompts temporary closure of checkpoint at Charlotte airport
CHARLOTTE — One of the checkpoints at Charlotte Douglas International Airport was temporarily closed Wednesday morning due to police activity caused by an unattended bag.
The airport issued an alert around 9:30 a.m. stating that Checkpoint C was closed, and advised passengers to go to Checkpoint A for PreCheck. Just after 10 a.m., the airport announced that the checkpoint had been reopened and operations had returned to normal.
Initially, the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department reported that the closure was due to an investigation into a “suspicious package.” However, within about 10 minutes, the department issued an update stating that the package was actually an unattended bag.
The brief delay occurred as the airport prepared for an increase in holiday travelers, but it did not appear to impact flights.
Police warned of traffic delays around the airport Wednesday morning, and a Channel 9 photojournalist observed backups near the arrivals area of the airport.
The incident serves as a reminder for travelers to be mindful of their belongings and to report any suspicious items to airport staff or law enforcement.
As the holiday season approaches, travelers should also be prepared for potential security measures and to allow extra time for check-in and security processes.