Miami, which serves as the main hub between North and South America, saw delays multiply exponentially due to a partial closure.__IP__By the end of the day, MIA management reported that operations would begin to normalize gradually, although they recommended that travelers check the status of their flights before heading to the terminal. The combination of the police operation and the arctic weather is set to leave a residue of delays that will affect international connections for the next 48 hours. Thousands of passengers experienced tense moments this Sunday at Miami International Airport (MIA). A large-scale security operation forced the evacuation of the south terminal after a suspicious package was found near gate 21. The deployment, which included the Miami-Dade Sheriff's Office bomb squad, paralyzed operations on a day already complicated by extreme weather in the Northern Hemisphere, according to the Argentine News Agency. Terminal closures and panic The incident was concentrated in the Departures area, which forced the immediate closure of TSA checkpoints in concourses G, H, and J. The U.S. air system was already collapsing due to a winter storm that caused thousands of cancellations across the country. "They ordered us to leave immediately without giving us any explanations," a passenger recounted. Although there were rumors of loud noises in the security area, authorities confirmed that there were no injuries and that the procedure was strictly precautionary to allow explosive experts to do their work. Winter storm: the logistical aggravation The security threat could not have come at a worse time. Airport management also restricted vehicle access, causing kilometer-long traffic jams at the entrances. Witnesses described scenes of confusion and running.
