LIHUE — The discovery of a suspicious envelope closed the Lihue Airport administrative offices briefly Tuesday morning. Carolyn Sluyter of the state’s Department of Transportation said an unmarked envelope was discovered about 8:10 a.m. by Lihue Airport personnel. “When one
LIHUE — The discovery of a suspicious envelope closed the Lihue Airport administrative offices briefly Tuesday morning.
Carolyn Sluyter of the state’s Department of Transportation said an unmarked envelope was discovered about 8:10 a.m. by Lihue Airport personnel.
“When one of our people went for the mail, there was a ripped envelope with no return address on it,” a clerk in the office said. “We didn’t open the envelope, but there was a Ziplock bag with some tissue in it, and when Dennis Neves, the airport superintendent, found out, he called 9-1-1 and the office was evacuated.”
Following the discovery, the airport administration offices were evacuated as a precaution after the Lihue Airport Fire Rescue and Kauai Hazardous Materials crews were dispatched.
Neves said the office staff was out of the office in the terminal area while Hazmat officers conducted tests.
Sarah Blane, county spokeswoman, said DOT took the lead on the incident because it took place in their jurisdiction, although county officers assisted.
“The Hazmat crew conducted on-scene testing of the package with results indicating it was not a threat,” Blane wrote in an email. “The package was then turned over to airport security.”
Neves said no one was in danger and there was no disruption of airport routines or flights during the closure.
The offices were re-opened at 11:40 a.m.
