posted 08-21-2002 01:06 PM            

Miami Airport Concourse Evacuated

ASSOCIATED PRESS

MIAMI- A Miami International Airport concourse was evacuated Wednesday after fumes caused people to have trouble breathing, officials said.

Paramedics treated at least 36 people at the scene.

The evacuation of Concourse B, which serves international flights, was ordered after several passengers going through the line began coughing, said airport spokeswoman Inson Kim said.

Hazardous material crews were searching for the source of the fumes.

"It's some type of aerosol, is what they're guessing," said Jeff Hackman, a Miami-Dade Fire Department spokesman.

People in or near a second-floor security checkpoint reported breathing difficulties and other symptoms, including scratchy throat, watery eyes, coughing and sneezing, Hackman said.

Paramedics were treating them at the airport.

No one required a trip to the hospital, Hackman said. The incident was reported shortly after 10 a.m., Hackman said.

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posted 08-22-2002 12:50 AM            

Pepper Spray Prompts Evacuation

By BRIAN BANDELL

ASSOCIATED PRESS

MIAMI- A Miami International Airport concourse was evacuated for three hours Wednesday after a pepper spray can discharged, causing 43 people to suffer respiratory distress.

The can disguised as a cigarette lighter was found near the second-floor security checkpoint in Concourse B, which serves international flights, fire department spokesman Jeff Hackman said.

Officials were certain pepper spray was the irritant, airport spokeswoman Alicia Diaz said. Security regulations allow passengers to carry pepper spray only if the canister has a way of preventing accidental discharge.

Paramedics treated 43 people for breathing problems and other symptoms, including scratchy throat, watery eyes, coughing and sneezing, Hackman said.

"I saw my co-workers were crying, they couldn't breathe, they were scratching themselves," said Mayelin Rodriguez, a screener with Global Aviation Services in Concourse B.

Fire officials could not say how many people total were forced out of the concourse, one of eight at the airport. At least five American Airlines flights scheduled to depart from Concourse B were moved to other gates, Diaz said.

http://www.lasvegassun.com/sunbin/stories/nat-gen/2002/aug/21/082103306.html