Hundreds evacuated from L.A. terminal

LOS ANGELES -- Hundreds of travelers were evacuated from Los Angeles International airport terminals Monday after baggage screeners spotted the outline of a hand grenade on a security scanner.

The object turned out to be an inert replica of a military hand grenade but it had the potential of being turned into an explosive device, police Commander Gary Brennan said.

The baggage was screened because the owner, a passenger on Alaska Airlines, "was identified as someone we needed to take a closer look at," said Ron Pelayo, manager at LAX for the federal Transportation Security Administration.

Officials did not identify the passenger, who was placed in federal custody for questioning and then released. A government official in Washington, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the grenade appeared to be a gag gift.

Federal Aviation Administration head Jane Garvey said the agency likely will pursue regulatory action against the passenger.

"It may be a fine. It may be something else," she said.

Passengers were evacuated from a ticketing area between Terminals 2 and 3 at about 5:45 a.m. and kept outside for nearly four hours, said Tom Winfrey, a spokesman for Los Angeles World Airports.

Three flights were canceled and 21 were delayed. The delays affected the entire national transportation system, Mayor James Hahn said at an airport new conference.

On Thursday, an unplugged metal detector triggered the evacuation of five LAX terminals, delaying 400 flights and forcing about 10,000 passengers to be rescreened.

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EDITOR'S NOTE -- Associated Press writer Sonya Ross contributed to this story from Washington.

Passengers were evacuated from a ticketing area between Terminals 2 and 3 at about 5:45 a.m. and kept outside for nearly four hours, said Tom Winfrey, a spokesman for Los Angeles World Airports.

Three flights were canceled and 21 were delayed. The delays affected the entire national transportation system, Mayor James Hahn said at an airport new conference.

On Thursday, an unplugged metal detector triggered the evacuation of five LAX terminals, delaying 400 flights and forcing about 10,000 passengers to be rescreened.

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EDITOR'S NOTE -- Associated Press writer Sonya Ross contributed to this story from Washington.