Honolulu airport closes for two hours.

AIRLINE INDUSTRY INFORMATION-(C)1997-2002 M2 COMMUNICATIONS

Honolulu International Airport was evacuated for two hours on 30 December after a security screener saw what she believed was a gun in a bag.

The image the screener saw was likely to be a computer-generated test, projected at random several times during a screener's shift to test their alertness. The screener notified her supervisor, but there was a three minute delay before they notified a security officer. Officials located the man, who cooperated with authorities and was permitted to board his flight.

The temporary shutdown affected around 3,500 passengers, who had to clear security check points again before returning to their gates. The screener and her supervisor, who work for a private company contracted by Hawaiian Airlines, have been suspended pending an investigation, reported The Associated Press.

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.PUB 430 >PD JANUARY 2, 2002 >JN AIRLINE INDUSTRY INFORMATION .PRICEDATE NOT APPLICABLE .DAY