Security breach at San Jose airport forces flight delays
A security breach at the Mineta San Jose International Airport Thursday night delayed at least eight Southwest flights, leaving hundreds of travelers stranded in the baggage claim area for about two hours.
At about 8:30 p.m., a woman awaiting a flight left the secure area after being screened then returned without being rescreened.
"I don't know how that happened," said David Vossbrink, a spokesman for the airport.
As a result, passengers who had already been screened were forced to evacuate Terminal B, and had to be rescreened.
San Jose police detained and questioned the 22-year-old woman. She was later cited and released on a misdmeanor for allegedly violating an airport security checkpoint.
Vossbrink said it did not appear, however, that she was carrying anything illegal.
Sandra Gonzales, Mercury News
