Hundreds of travellers were forced to flee Kansas City International Airport on Sunday afternoon following an unspecified threat that grounded flights and caused major disruption. The incident was reported around 11:50 a.m. local time, with unverified reports suggesting a potential bomb threat.
Passengers were seen exiting the terminal with luggage, while others waited on the tarmac. Both inbound and outbound flights were grounded, and a section of the interstate near the airport was closed. One traveller told KAKE News: “Suddenly there was an airport worker saying ‘immediately evacuate,’ people got up fast and rushed out of there.”
After a search by law enforcement, the threat was deemed not credible, and the terminal reopened around 3 p.m. FBI Director Kash Patel wrote on X: “The threat was reviewed and determined not to be credible. Threats like these are a federal crime.” Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy confirmed that the “security incident” was clear and normal operations were resuming.
A spokesperson for the aviation department later said the airport received a call about a “potential device” in the terminal and parking garage, leading to the evacuation. Bomb and arson units conducted extensive searches but found no credible threat. Several flights were diverted, and a heavy police presence was seen outside.
This is the second evacuation at the airport in three months, following a similar incident on New Year’s Eve. The airport is the 44th busiest in the US, serving 4.7 million passengers annually.
