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Smoke and Suspicious Package Closes Portion of Pittsburgh International

UPDATED 4:15pm 12/06/12

The “D” concourse at Pittsburgh International Airport was closed for a few hours this morning as the Allegheny County bomb squad and county fire marshal investigated a suspicious package.

Airport spokesperson Joann Jenny said the Airport Authority received an emergency call at 7:30 Thursday morning that there was smoke around gate D80. 

When crews went to investigate they tracked the smoke to a plumbing access panel in a nearby men’s bathroom.  Jenny said a cigarette butt had apparently caught on fire some paper towels, a satchel, and other debris that had been stashed in the area.

While the bomb squad investigated, the D concourse was closed and Delta and American Airlines passengers and flights were sent to the A concourse.

Jenny said investigators believe someone was habitually smoking in the rest room because they found other butts behind the access panel.  The charred satchel found behind the panel contained a rolled up sleeping mat.

After the package was cleared, operations were allowed to return to normal.