A suspicious phone call at Donald J. Trump International Airport in Palm Beach, Florida, caused disruption and temporary travel restrictions on Sunday, October 18, just hours before the US president was scheduled to depart. Authorities were called to investigate the incident, and traffic to the terminal was restricted as a precaution, causing inconvenience to passengers and drivers.
The first update from the airport came shortly after 1:20 p.m. local time , with officials saying law enforcement was investigating a suspicious phone call. The Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office, PBSO , was directing traffic to the facility, and travelers were advised to expect delays upon arrival.
Although no information was initially released about the content of the call, a substantial clarification followed. According to the latest update from local television station WPTV , the sheriff’s office confirmed that a bomb threat had been reported. The checks carried out, however, did not lead to the detection of an explosive device .
The restrictions had an immediate impact on passenger access. An eyewitness described to WPTV that the arrivals and departures area was blocked off to vehicles. Some travelers, worried about missing their flights, reportedly got out of their cars on Belvedere Avenue and continued on foot to the airport, carrying their luggage.
During the investigation, airport management urged the public to report any suspicious activity to authorities and thanked travelers for their patience and cooperation. The initial briefing focused on precautionary measures and possible delays, without providing further details about the origin of the call.
At approximately 14:30 local time, 21:30 Greek time , it was announced that the roads to the terminal had reopened and that airport operations had returned to normal . The restoration of access ended the temporary traffic restrictions that had been imposed while the investigation was ongoing.
The timing of the incident gave it added weight, as Donald Trump was due to depart Palm Beach on the same day. However, the available updates do not document that the threat was directed at the president personally , nor does it confirm a change in his schedule due to the phone call. The information that has been made public concerns the mobilization of the authorities, the precautionary restrictions, and the completion of the checks without detecting an explosive device.