A man is facing charges after a false bomb threat caused part of Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport to be evacuated Sunday night, officials said.
The incident began around 5:30 p.m. when Broward Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to a bomb threat on the upper level of Terminal 1, officials said.
According to BSO, an airport employee told deputies that the man said “Call the cops, I have a bomb in my bag.”
Officials said he made the statement after having trouble using a kiosk to check into his flight.
Everyone was evacuated from the terminal and the airport’s departure entrance for vehicles was blocked off.
The incident caused major travel delays before authorities gave the “all clear” about three hours later, around 8:30 p.m.
In a post on the social media platform X, FLL stated that BSO has cleared the security incident in Terminal 1 and all airport roadway and terminal operations were back to normal.
Travel Advisory Update No. 2: Law enforcement has cleared the security incident in Terminal 1 and all airport roadway and terminal operations are returning to normal. We appreciate your patience during this incident.
Officials later identified the suspect as 27-year-old Tyler Baeder, of Rhode Island. He’s charged with making a false report of a bomb and resisting an officer without violence, jail records showed.
By Monday morning things were back to normal and busy at the airport with holiday travel underway.
Back to (busy) normal at #FLL following “all clear” signal from last night’s bomb threat @nbc6 pic.twitter.com/GQO8QJuOEX