Southwest Plane Baggage Searched at Midway

A Southwest Airlines jet arriving at Midway International Airport was searched by authorities and cleared Friday afternoon.

The Transportation Security Administration requested the additional screening of baggage in the bay area of the plane when it arrived from Detroit, said Southwest spokeswoman Beth Harbin.

All 177 passengers were escorted off Flight 667 at 10:45 a.m. at its designated gate and authorities commenced the re-screening, she said.

A Chicago police bomb and arson squad and a canine unit were dispatched to the scene. Both units checked out the baggage in question and found no issues, said Chicago police spokesman Marcel Bright.

"There was never any danger," Bright said. "We are happy with the results. This is what is supposed to happen with our heightened security."

It remains unclear why the bag was flagged by authorities. TSA spokeswoman Lara Uselding declined to discuss it, but she said the investigation was wrapped up and the situation is over.

Part of the issue, she said, was that the bag was not on the same plane as the passenger who owned it. The bag was properly screened in Detroit, she added.

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