CHARLOTTE (AP) — Firefighters pulled two black garbage bags from a US Airways plane Tuesday afternoon at Charlotte-Douglas International Airport but its contents pose no threat to passengers, officials said.
The fire department had a hazardous materials team on the tarmac outside Gate B, said Charlotte Fire Capt. Rob Brisley. The contents of the bags were unknown, but he said there was no threat to people.
US Airways spokeswoman Michelle Mohr said there has been no interruption of flight schedules or gate assignments. She said firefighters were called to help identify the substance before the plane could depart. Tempe, Ariz.-based US Airways has its largest hub at the Charlotte airport.
The Airbus A-321, which was parked overnight in Charlotte, was being loaded when employees noticed a substance in the cargo area, Mohr said.
"It was a little suspicious so they contacted the proper authorities because they didn't know what it was. They did the right thing. Safety is the number one priority," she said.
Firefighters isolated the substance in two garbage bags before removing them from the plane for testing. She said the plane would stay grounded in Charlotte until the substance is determined.
"Once we know what that is, we'll have a better idea," she said.