CLEARWATER, Fla — St. Pete-Clearwater International Airport (PIE) has resumed normal operations after an alleged bomb threat was found on a plane Friday afternoon.
Pinellas County Sheriff's Office (PCSO) said an Allegiant plane landed at the airport from Cincinnati around 5:30 p.m. and was scheduled return there.
As the plane taxied from the gate, a flight attendant opened a lavatory door and saw the threat written on the door, according to Pinellas Sheriff Bob Gualtieri.
The pilot stopped the plane, and the passengers were evacuated.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) reported that PIE was closed for a couple of hours Friday evening while PCSO secured all planes and did a full sweep of the area. The airport reopened as of 8 p.m.
The PCSO stated that there are no reported injuries and no threat to the public.
Everyone on the plane is being interviewed and they do have some suspects, Sheriff Gualtieri said.
Passengers with flights out of the airport should contact their airline for information on specific flights that were impacted by the closure, a spokesperson for PIE said.
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