Smoking bag removed from international flight in Houston was damaged by external heat source

No threat from smoking suitcase at Houston airport

HOUSTON — Police say a ruptured, smoking suitcase found on an international flight in Houston posed no threat and that damage to the bag was caused by an external heat source.

Officials say luggage was being taken off a KLM flight that had arrived at George Bush Intercontinental Airport from Amsterdam on Tuesday when a baggage handler found a suitcase that appeared to have smoke coming from it.

The handler carried the bag away from the plane and terminal and called emergency crews.

Houston Police spokesman Victor Senties (sehn-TEE’-yehs) says investigators and bomb squad members determined the suitcase was damaged by an external heat source, not any contents. He says there were no arrests.

Airport spokeswoman Marlene McClinton says there was no disruption to airport operations.