By Eileen Buckley
Buffalo, NY – A suspicious package shut down the entire Buffalo Niagara International Airport earlier Wednesday morning.
It was discovered around 4:30 AM on a counter in the airport terminal halting all flights. It was a box wrapped in plastic. Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority spokesman Doug Hartmeyer says when the package was screened it appeared to look like a possible pipe bomb.
"Bomb sniffing K-9 dogs came over to the box and did not have a reaction to it. That just before six o'clock this morning. Then ten minutes later the box was opened and physically removed from the terminal. It was taken to a safe area. The Erie County Bomb Squad also responded, and their dog team didn't have any response to it," said Hartmeyer.
But it turned out to be Star Wars memorabilia, including a Star War light saber. The airport was closed for about 45-minutes Wednesday morning.
Flights are returning to normal, but there are long lines through security. It is best to call your airline ahead of time if you have a flight Wednesday morning.