All entrances to Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport were closed for over five hours Thursday morning while police investigated "suspicious wires" found in a vehicle, leading to evacuations and a massive law enforcement response.
Broward Sheriff's Office officials said deputies received information about the suspicious wires in the vehicle that was in a parking garage near Terminals 2 and 3 just after 1 a.m.
Deputies responded to the scene and quickly closed the roadways and secured the area around the vehicle located on the upper level of the garage, evacuating people in the vicinity.
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The BSO Bomb Squad responded and determined the wires weren't a threat, officials said.
"I think it's crazy because nobody knows what's going on," said traveler Ava Campbell, who said her father got a text message that her flight was delayed.
Shortly after 7 a.m., officers reopened all the roadways after the all-clear was given.
Travelers were advised to check their flight status before arriving as delays were expected throughout the morning.
Airport officials said operations were "gradually returning to normal" after employees had to wait to get back in the airport.
Planes were seen on all runways waiting to take off with all flights scheduled to depart before 8 a.m. being delayed.
"We haven't heard anything. The way we found out was being driven in different directions by our driver," said Cory Combs, who was scheduled on a 6 a.m. flight to Cincinnati, Ohio.
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Even hours after roads reopened and travelers entered the airport, lines wrapped around to drop off luggage and check-in for flights.
"It was like nobody is in the airport until we going here," said Michael Frank, a traveler who waited in the lines. "I've never seen anything like this."
