Abandoned Christmas gift triggers evacuation at Brunswick airport

<p>An abandoned Christmas present triggered the evacuation of Brunswick-Golden Isles Airport and the cancellation of two commercial flights Sunday.</p><p>Transportation Security Administration officers discovered the wrapped package with a note reading, Merry Christmas ... This is not a bomb, around 7 p.m. in a passenger waiting area of the terminal near a security checkpoint, said Sgt. Jay Wiggins of the Glynn County Police Department.</p><p>FBI agents, TSA officers, Georgia Bureau of Investigation bomb squad technicians and local law enforcement swooped in, evacuating the terminal, sealing off the airport and bringing in a robot to handle the package.</p><p>As the robot picked it up, the package opened, revealing the contents.</p><p>It was a heavy glass candleholder from a St. Simons Island arts and crafts-type shop, FBI Special Agent Tony Alig said.</p><p>Investigators havent determined who left the package or why they did so.</p><p>It appears that it was an unwanted Christmas present, Alig said. Possibly thinking that it was too good to throw in the trash, somebody left it where it would be found.</p><p>Authorities also said the person may have been concerned that the candleholder would be confiscated at the security checkpoint because the Department of Homeland Security had raised the national terror attack warning level to Code Orange earlier in the day.</p><p>The airport was closed until about 9:30 p.m., resulting in the cancellation of two Atlantic Southeast Airlines flights _ one bound for Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport and one due to land from Atlanta, said Steve Brian, executive director of the Glynn County Airport Commission.</p><p>Brian estimated that at least a dozen passengers on those flights were forced to seek alternate transportation Sunday night or wait until the next day.</p>