Hazmat Teams Called To DIA
Third Callout In Two Days, Officials Report
POSTED: 10:09 a.m. MDT October 12, 2001
UPDATED: 12:14 p.m. MDT October 12, 2001
DENVER -- Denver Fire Department hazardous material workers are at Denver International Airport investigating a "suspicious package" found at the Fed Ex jet facility Friday.
The package came open in the south cargo area (pictured, left), according to 7NEWS. Some type of green liquid was leaking from the package, the station reported.
No workers were injured but the area was cordoned off, 7NEWS reported.
Hazmat workers could be seen in full body suits on the cargo ramp. Traffic around the area was not diverted, however.
"We can not confirm what we found," said Jennifer McGowan, of Fed Ex media relations. "There is a suspicious package and we've spoken with authorities and are cooperating with their investigation. All our operations remain on high alert. So far we are proceeding with normal operations nationwide and that includes Denver," she said
The area was well away from the terminal area of DIA.
A hazardous materials team was dispatched to the Denver International Airport Thursday evening to check out a mysterious red powder that was found on a piece of paper on the tarmac.
The small folded paper fell out of the cargo hold of a plane at Gate 28 on Concourse A at about 8 p.m., 7NEWS reported.
The powder inside the envelope was contained and was not a threat to planes or people, 7NEWS reported. The investigation created no problems for passengers, and planes were allowed to arrive and depart on time.
The team was able to determine that the substance was not dangerous, but "they don't have the equipment to identify it positively at the scene, so they called the Guard folks at Buckley," said DIA spokesman Dan Melfi.
The envelope was sealed and was taken to Buckley Air Force Base to be analyzed Friday.
It was the second time Thursday that hazmat crews were called to the airport on the report of a mysterious substance.
The first time, the crew was sent to the U.S. Postal/air mail cargo area at DIA when postal employees, who were training for a preparedness drill, forgot to get rid of a package purposely placed there during the test.
A nonpostal employee found the package and called police because it contained a white powder. It turned out to be baby powder.
The package came open in the south cargo area (pictured, left), according to 7NEWS. Some type of green liquid was leaking from the package, the station reported.
No workers were injured but the area was cordoned off, 7NEWS reported.
Hazmat workers could be seen in full body suits on the cargo ramp. Traffic around the area was not diverted, however.
"We can not confirm what we found," said Jennifer McGowan, of Fed Ex media relations. "There is a suspicious package and we've spoken with authorities and are cooperating with their investigation. All our operations remain on high alert. So far we are proceeding with normal operations nationwide and that includes Denver," she said
The area was well away from the terminal area of DIA.
A hazardous materials team was dispatched to the Denver International Airport Thursday evening to check out a mysterious red powder that was found on a piece of paper on the tarmac.
The small folded paper fell out of the cargo hold of a plane at Gate 28 on Concourse A at about 8 p.m., 7NEWS reported.
The powder inside the envelope was contained and was not a threat to planes or people, 7NEWS reported. The investigation created no problems for passengers, and planes were allowed to arrive and depart on time.
The team was able to determine that the substance was not dangerous, but "they don't have the equipment to identify it positively at the scene, so they called the Guard folks at Buckley," said DIA spokesman Dan Melfi.
The envelope was sealed and was taken to Buckley Air Force Base to be analyzed Friday.
It was the second time Thursday that hazmat crews were called to the airport on the report of a mysterious substance.
The first time, the crew was sent to the U.S. Postal/air mail cargo area at DIA when postal employees, who were training for a preparedness drill, forgot to get rid of a package purposely placed there during the test.
A nonpostal employee found the package and called police because it contained a white powder. It turned out to be baby powder.Copyright 2002 by TheDenverChannel.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
