The investigation into a bomb threat continued late Wednesday at Charlotte-Monroe Executive Airport. The one-runway airport closed and stopped all air traffic around 4 p.m. but reopened before midnight, arrivals records showed.
The public was asked to avoid the area, according to the Monroe Police Department. Around 8:30 Wednesday night, police wrote on Facebook the investigation was still active. But the police department said “We want to assure the residents of Monroe that there is no danger to the public related to this investigation.”
A nearby owner of a rental residence said she was asked to open the doors for a crowd coming from the airport, evacuated due to the bomb threat.
Just before 5:30 p.m. police said on social media: “At this time we can confirm a bomb threat was called into the Charlotte-Monroe Executive Airport. The bomb squad has been called in for further assessment.”
From Chopper 9 Skyzoom, the Observer’s news partner WSOC reported K-9 police units were searching all areas around the airport and its hangars.
The airport was evacuated to a nearby Airbnb, according to Patricia Wilfong who owns the property with her husband.
Airport officials called her asking if people — both workers and flyers — could use the home as a “safe haven,” she said.
”The property is vacant, so of course if people need a place to go we’re happy to open the doors and let them stay there,” she said. She wasn’t sure how many people were there Wednesday afternoon.
Before the airport closed, the most recent confirmed arrival, according to Flight Aware, was before 3 p.m. Wednesday. The last reported plane departure from Monroe was 2:56 p.m.
“Although there are no road closures at this time (4:03pm), please AVOID the area if possible,” police said on Facebook Wednesday afternoon. “If you are in the area, please EXPECT delays as there is an increased law enforcement presence in the area.”
Charlotte-Monroe Executive Airport
The Monroe airport was built in 1969, and has continually expanded since then. In 2006, the city took over management of the airport from Landmark Aviation of Winston-Salem to make it more cost competitive and to emphasize it as an economic development asset.
The airport also is the home of the annual Warbirds Over Monroe air show, a popular exhibition in November each year involving military aircraft dating to World War II. And, it hosted the Wells Fargo Golf Tournament earlier this month.
The airport does not handle commercial aviation. But Monroe has long been home to a cluster of aerospace companies, and has touted the airport as a selling point for them to use as a base for their jets. Charter companies also operate from the airport.
This is a developing story. Check back for more details.
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