Tuesday morning got off to a chaotic start for travelers at Hilo International Airport on Hawai’i Island when Transportation Security Administration agents discovered two grenades during a routine screening of carry-on items.
Around 5:45 a.m., TSA agents noticed a suspicious item as a bag went through the X-ray machine, prompting them to conduct a further examination. The area was evacuated to ensure the safety of airport employees and departing travelers until explosive specialists arrived.
The grenades were found in a carry-on bag belonging to 41-year-old Akito Fukushima, a Japanese national who was attempting to return home. Upon closer inspection, the grenades were deemed inactive and had been rendered powerless. It remains unclear where they came from or what Fukushima intended to do with them.
Fukushima cooperated with authorities, but the investigation is ongoing to determine the circumstances surrounding the incident. He was arrested and charged with first-degree terroristic threatening, a class C felony.
Airport operations resumed around 6:50 a.m. after the scene was deemed safe. The incident served as a reminder to travelers to check the contents of their luggage before arriving at the airport to avoid similar disruptions.
