Pistol Found in Carry-On at Maryland Airport

Sept. 22, 2006
Two concourses were evacuated when gun owner disappeared.

Security screeners discovered a pistol in a carry-on bag at Baltimore's main airport Friday morning, and two concourses were evacuated when its owner disappeared, authorities said.

The bag was held at the security checkpoint at Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport, but the man who owned it passed through, airport spokesman Jonathan Dean said.

There was no indication of terrorism, police said.

Police, security officers and search dogs unsuccessfully hunted the terminals for a man in his early 30s, wearing blue jeans and a red and black track jacket, Transportation Security Administration police spokesman Jonathan Green said.

"We simply were acting with all due precaution," Dean said.

The pistol was a .25 caliber semiautomatic, Green said.

Concourses A and B, which serve Southwest Airlines, reopened after 90 minutes. Passengers were being required to go through screening again, Dean said.

More than a dozen flights were delayed, said Cheryl Stewart, an airport spokeswoman.

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