No airport operations affected

By Guy Page

Reports of an active shooter at Patrick Leahy Burlington International Airport Thursday morning were unfounded and appear to have grown out of a brief response to a bomb threat that authorities quickly determined was not credible.

An informed source told VDC that South Burlington dispatch received a threat involving a bomb at the airport. Authorities responded under normal emergency procedures but quickly determined the threat lacked credibility.

The response led South Burlington schools to go into a temporary lockdown as a precaution. The lockdown was lifted within minutes after police determined there was no credible threat. According to News 5, Interim Superintendent Joe Clark told the school community that the airport threat was reported at about 8:20 AM and that South Burlington Police Chief Bill Breault advised him it was not credible.

Despite reports circulating Thursday morning about an active shooter or a major security incident, airport operations were not disrupted. The airport did not evacuate, close its security checkpoint, halt passenger screening or delay flights as a result of the threat.

The airport response itself was essentially over within five to 10 minutes.

The incident caused some confusion Thursday morning as word of the school lockdown and airport response spread.