ATLANTA -- Atlanta police shut down parts of the baggage claim area at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport Monday afternoon after they received reports of a suspicious package.
About half of the baggage claim area was shut down by police, but when they opened it up, they got a big surprise.
One officer told Channel 2’s Richard Elliot that baggage handlers started to go through the unclaimed luggage to see whom it belonged to, and when they did, they found strange leaves and a lot of aluminum foil.
The handlers said they did not want to mess with it any further, so they alerted police, who then alerted the bomb squad.
Police said the bomb squad then ordered passengers to move at least 200 feet away.
“We just had to sit back there and wait and finally they, like, ‘Oh, move back to the opposite end.’ So we all moved back,” traveler Ralph Medley said.
Mike Kleirock had just flown in from Philadelphia and couldn't get his luggage.
He wondered why the airport didn't just move the all of the passengers’ luggage to a different carousel.
“It’s a little bit disappointing that they knew this area was closed before they routed our bags here. There's a bunch of baggage claims over there not working. At the same time, I love being safe and not being involved in anything suspicious,” Kleinrock said.
After the bomb detection equipment gave the suspicious bag the all-clear, police said they searched it and found fish. A lot of fish.
One investigator said they believe a traveler was trying to spice up the fish with herbs in their luggage while flying.
Investigators said they still don't know whom the bag belongs to.
Even with an hour delay, passengers told Elliot they appreciated the extra security precaution.
“I know that they take necessary precautions, so I wasn't put off by it,” Medley said.
Police said they disposed of the fish. They told Elliot it’s not that unusual for travelers, especially international travelers, to try to bring in beef or fish, and spice it up in their luggage.
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