Emergency Response at Presidential Air Base
A security alert was triggered at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland on Thursday after a suspicious package containing a white powder was opened, leading to the brief hospitalisation of seven individuals. The base is the home of the US president's iconic Air Force One aircraft.
Incident Details and Evacuation
According to base officials, the incident occurred in the afternoon when an individual opened the questionable package. As a precautionary measure, the building and a connecting building were immediately evacuated, and a security cordon was established around the area.
Joint Base Andrews first responders were quickly dispatched to the scene. While the specifics of the powder and the nature of the illnesses it caused remain unclear, all seven of those affected have since been released from the Malcolm Grove Medical Centre located on the base.
Investigation and All-Clear
Initial field tests conducted by hazardous materials teams did not detect any harmful substances. A statement from the base command confirmed that responders determined there were no immediate threats and that normal operations had resumed by early evening.
However, the investigation is far from over. The scene has been turned over to the US Air Force's Office of Special Investigations, and the room where the envelope was opened—situated within the Air National Guard Readiness Center—remains closed as inquiries continue.
