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White powder in package triggers evacuation at Joint Base Andrews
A suspicious package containing an unidentified white powder caused multiple people to fall ill Friday at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland, prompting an evacuation of the facility that supports Air Force One operations, base officials confirmed.
Incident response and medical status
Medical personnel treated those affected on-site, with all individuals reported in stable condition, according to a spokesperson for the base near Washington, DC. The building where the package was opened-and an adjacent structure-were cleared "as a precaution," the spokesperson said, while a security perimeter was established around the area.
Hazmat investigation and findings
First responders, including a hazardous materials team, conducted initial tests that detected no immediate threats, Joint Base Andrews officials stated. CNN, citing unnamed sources familiar with the probe, reported that investigators are also examining political propaganda found inside the package. Normal operations at the base resumed after the scene was deemed secure.
Air Force One operations unaffected
The base, which houses the U.S. presidential aircraft and its support fleet, remains the primary departure point for presidential travel. Authorities have not disclosed the nature or severity of the illnesses experienced by those exposed, nor have they specified the number of individuals affected.
"First responders were dispatched to the scene, determined there were no immediate threats, and normal operations have resumed. An investigation is currently ongoing."
Joint Base Andrews spokesperson
Next steps
The incident remains under investigation, with authorities yet to confirm the substance's composition or the origin of the package. No further details on the political materials included were provided.
