Smoking Suitcase Causes Delay of US Airways Flight in Phoenix
A smoking case found on its way to a plane’s cargo area caused the flight to be evacuated at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport on Tuesday, airport officials informed.

There were 108 passengers and five crew members in the process of boarding Flight 200 to San Antonio at the time, when a baggage handler spotted the bag that was smoking on the tarmac. This was happening at 10 a.m. local time.

The airport staff searched the luggage, but fortunately no explosives were found. The owner of the bag was questioned by authorities, who said they do not suspect terrorism, an airport spokeswoman said.

The Phoenix Fire Department crew is still investigating the source of the smoke, Airport spokeswoman Julie Rodruigez said. She added that the A-17 gate area in Terminal 4 was evacuated by airport officials as a safety measure.

The airplane was moved to another area, a less busy one, and the hazardous materials team was called by the Phoenix Fire Department to investigate.

The passengers of the San Antonio-bound Flight 200 were taken off the plane, but re-boarded the plane after it had been moved. The flight was allowed to take off after about an hour's delay.

There were no other flight delays reported at the airport.

The Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport is Arizona's main international airport and one of the largest aviation facilities in the American Southwest. At present, Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport is the ninth busiest airport in the United States in terms of traffic.