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RDU Terminal 1 Evacuated After Anonymous Threat

Published 31 March 2026

Raleigh-Durham International Airport's Terminal 1 was evacuated early Monday morning following an anonymous threat received just before 4:30 a.m., forcing hundreds of passengers and staff outside for nearly two hours while security teams conducted a thorough search.

Airport officials, in coordination with law enforcement and Transportation Security Administration personnel, responded immediately to the report, which came in around 4:20 a.m. Passengers were directed to the terminal's curb and driveway areas, where they waited amid confusion and uncertainty. The evacuation disrupted early morning operations at Terminal 1, which serves airlines including Alaska, Avelo, Breeze, Southwest, Spirit and Sun Country. Terminal 2 continued to function normally, allowing the airport as a whole to remain open.

By approximately 6 a.m., after inspections involving security sweeps and canine units confirmed no credible threat, authorities cleared the terminal for reentry. Travelers then faced extended lines as they passed through security again, leading to further delays in boarding and departures. Several early flights were postponed or rescheduled, with some passengers reporting shifts of up...

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