Baggage at the Peoria's airport originally thought to contain a bomb turned out to be a training device used at Planned Parenthood clinics.
Traffic into General Wayne A. Downing Peoria International Airport backed up this morning onto Interstate 474 when security personal shut down the airport after discovering the fake device. Officials say say they found checked baggage appearing to contain tubes of explosive material, a timing device and a jar of liquid. Michelle Davidson, 38, of Maryland, who travels to Planned Parenthood clinics across the country, uses the demonstration device as a training tool. She attempted to check a package with the fake bomb at about 6:30 a.m., and was detained by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA). She was later released. Sheriff Mike McCoy said the woman being questioned kept telling security that "Everything will be OK." McCoy said a glance at the contents of the baggage caused him to be concerned.
Airport Director Gene Olsen said the airport was evacuated and all flights delayed. Flights resumed at around 10 a.m.
Peoria County Sheriff Chief Deputy Joe Needham said a Transportation Security Administration screener saw three cylindrical objects labeled dynamite, wires and what looked like detonators, and a vessel filled with liquid.
Gene Olson says flights were halted at around 7 A.M Thursday, but were back in the air by 10 A.M.
The woman, who was bound for Washington D.C., was released with no charges filed.