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A FLORIDA airport was evacuated after a huge guided live missile was found inside a cargo container - and officials have no idea how it got there.
The airborne weapon was found by a contractor who opened up the container at Lakeland Linder International Airport in Florida.
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The missile was found at Lakeland Linder International Airport in FloridaCredit: MacDill Air Force Base
Bomb disposal experts from the US Air Force were called in to handle the missile on Friday afternoon, alongside Lakeland Fire Rescue and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco Firearms and Explosives.
Usually, containers have inert missiles in them, but this S-530 French air-to-air missile had explosives on it - although it was not armed, essentially the equivalent of a loaded firearm with the safety catch on.
The whole southeast side of the airport was evacuated for about four hours, the Tampa Bay Times reported.
The container arrived with pieces of a plane from a company called Draken International, the local ABC station reported.
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Usually, containers have inert missiles in them, but this French missile had explosives on itCredit: MacDill Air Force Base
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Lakeland Linder International AirportCredit: Lakeland Linder International Airport
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Members of the 6th EOD team were called out to the airportCredit: Google
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The missile was live but unarmedCredit: MacDill Air Force Base
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The missile is awaiting disposal at a safe locationCredit: MacDill Air Force Base
According to Draken's website, it "owns and operates the world's largest commercial fleet of tactical ex-military aircraft and supports military training objectives around the globe".
“I’ve been here for 10 years and Draken has been here since 2011, but this is a first,” Eugene Conrad, airport director, said.
Officials from MacDill’s 6th Civil Engineer Squadron Explosive Ordnance Disposal team were dispatched to secure the missile, and the 6th Logistics Readiness Squadron sent a truck to help load and transport it to a munition storage facility at MacDill Air Force Base, said Lt. Brandon Hanner, spokesman for the 6th Air Refueling Wing.
In a statement to local station WTSP on Monday, Draken International said in the process of evaluating shipments, its team discovered "an object with questionable markings indicating it may be explosive".
The statement continued: "Adhering to the explosive safety rule of exposing the minimum amount of people for the minimum amount of time to a potential explosive hazard, we made the decision to evacuate the facility, inform our surrounding tenants, and contact the appropriate authorities as soon as possible.”
The missile is currently awaiting proper disposal.
The airborne weapon was found by a contractor who opened up the container at Lakeland Linder International Airport in Florida.
6
The missile was found at Lakeland Linder International Airport in FloridaCredit: MacDill Air Force Base
Bomb disposal experts from the US Air Force were called in to handle the missile on Friday afternoon, alongside Lakeland Fire Rescue and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco Firearms and Explosives.
Usually, containers have inert missiles in them, but this S-530 French air-to-air missile had explosives on it - although it was not armed, essentially the equivalent of a loaded firearm with the safety catch on.
The whole southeast side of the airport was evacuated for about four hours, the Tampa Bay Times reported.
The container arrived with pieces of a plane from a company called Draken International, the local ABC station reported.
6
Usually, containers have inert missiles in them, but this French missile had explosives on itCredit: MacDill Air Force Base
6
Lakeland Linder International AirportCredit: Lakeland Linder International Airport
6
Members of the 6th EOD team were called out to the airportCredit: Google
6
The missile was live but unarmedCredit: MacDill Air Force Base
6
The missile is awaiting disposal at a safe locationCredit: MacDill Air Force Base
According to Draken's website, it "owns and operates the world's largest commercial fleet of tactical ex-military aircraft and supports military training objectives around the globe".
“I’ve been here for 10 years and Draken has been here since 2011, but this is a first,” Eugene Conrad, airport director, said.
Officials from MacDill’s 6th Civil Engineer Squadron Explosive Ordnance Disposal team were dispatched to secure the missile, and the 6th Logistics Readiness Squadron sent a truck to help load and transport it to a munition storage facility at MacDill Air Force Base, said Lt. Brandon Hanner, spokesman for the 6th Air Refueling Wing.
In a statement to local station WTSP on Monday, Draken International said in the process of evaluating shipments, its team discovered "an object with questionable markings indicating it may be explosive".
The statement continued: "Adhering to the explosive safety rule of exposing the minimum amount of people for the minimum amount of time to a potential explosive hazard, we made the decision to evacuate the facility, inform our surrounding tenants, and contact the appropriate authorities as soon as possible.”
The missile is currently awaiting proper disposal.
