by Lacey Pfalz
Last updated: 8:45 AM ET, Mon January 26, 2026
Miami International Airport was partially evacuated on Sunday, January 25, after unattended luggage was left at Departures Door 21, causing panic among both airport staff and travelers, and prompting police to evacuate the area for over two hours.
The incident occurred at Concourses G, H, and J, according to the Miami Herald, with TSA checkpoints and surrounding areas evacuated at around 5:00 p.m. local time. The Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office responded to the airport, prompting the evacuation “out of an abundance of caution”, according to Detective Angel Rodriguez.
Miami-Dade Aviation Department spokesperson Greg Chin explained the situation to reporters, saying that the Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office searched the premises and gave an all-clear around 7:30 p.m.
The Bomb Squad did search the premises, but found no threats, merely luggage left unattended.
Travelers posted about the incident on social media, showing people screaming and moving in crowds. It is unclear whether anyone missed their scheduled flight due to the delay, though it is possible.
Jennifer Tripp, a traveler who witnessed the scene, described a calm moment before TSA started screaming, prompting panic: “Everyone was screaming, everyone was running. Everyone was huddled in the corners,” she told the Miami Herald. “Parents were crying, hiding their babies and hovering in unattended spaces.”
Tripp herself followed evacuation orders, but there was an apparent lack of communication, with many travelers, including Tripp, unaware of what prompted the evacuation.
Airport protocols remind travelers never to leave their luggage unattended, primarily so that it doesn’t get lost or stolen, but also so that it doesn’t resemble a particular threat, like an explosive device.
This incident should serve as a stark reminder that an otherwise ordinary object at the airport can be perceived as a potential threat in the right circumstances, potentially impacting travel for many, and that travelers should always ensure they have their belongings with them at all times.
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