The Vineyard Gazette – News from Martha's Vineyard

Martha's Vineyard Airport was evacuated and closed for about two hours Sunday after a security threat, airport manager Geoff Freeman said.

Mr Freeman said that at around 12.30pm, a “security situation” arose at the island's main airport involving a departing private plane, forcing airport staff and police to evacuate the terminal.

Mr. Freeman was unable to provide further details and referred further inquiries to the Massachusetts State Police.

State police referred questions to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA); shortly thereafter, an FAA spokesman referred the Gazette to local authorities.

The airport reopened shortly before 2.30pm and planes were flying again, Mr Freeman said.

Shortly before 3 p.m., only a handful of passengers remained in the terminal. Several said they had not yet been to the airport at the time of the evacuation and were hoping that their flights would take off on time.