A flight to Bermuda out of the Philly airport was delayed. Image: dg850 / Flickr / CC-BY-SA

This morning at the Philadelphia airport, a flight headed for Bermuda was evacuated. A baggage handler who was not showing ID disappeared when questioned. No other flights into or out of the Philadelphia airport were affected by the incident.

Evacuation at the Philadelphia airport

U.S. Airways Flight 1070 was scheduled to leave the Philadelphia airport for Bermuda. With 102 passengers and 5 crew aboard, the flight was canceled. The plane was towed to a “secure” tarmac and searched by bomb-sniffing dogs. The passengers on the flight were put on a later flight to the same destination, at no cost, so no passengers had to get a no fax payday loan. There’s no word yet on whether the luggage that had to be searched also made it to Bermuda with its owners.

Unknown baggage handler at Philly airport

The “security incident” at the airport began when a baggage handler did not show identification. There were three men loading bags into U.S. Airways flight 1070. Two of the men did not recognize the third and noted that he did not display his identification, as is required. The unidentified man was confronted by the other two baggage handlers. He did not identify himself and fled. This unknown third person is still being sought by law enforcement. TSA regulations state that in secure areas such as tarmacs, identification must be worn at all times.

Effect of bomb scare on the Philadelphia airport

After the confrontation, U.S. Airways flight 1070 was towed to a secure area. Bomb-sniffing dogs examined all the luggage on the flight. No other flights were delayed or canceled because the incident was “contained.” This means even if a bomb had been found, the incident would have been contained. Officials at the airport have stated that “it could be a suspicious person or it could be nothing.” Until more is known about the Philly airport incident, security at the airport will remain in a heightened state.

The Sugarhouse Casino has been the site of much controversy. Image: ItsOurCity / Flickr / CC-BY

The Sugarhouse Casino, the first casino in Philadelphia, opened today on the shores of the Delaware River. This mega-casino received one of the five licenses awarded in December of 2006. While the Sugarhouse Casino is expected to bring in billions of dollars of gaming taxes, there is still controversy. Many residents and anti-gambling groups continue to protest the Sugarhouse Casino, and are moving forward with plans intended to reduce casino earnings.

The arguments against the Sugarhouse Casino

From the day HSP Gaming, L.P. was granted a gaming license by the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board, residents have expressed concern. Groups ranging from the Philadelphia Neighborhood Alliance, the Northern Liberties Neighbors Association and Casino Free Philadelphia argued that the Sugarhouse Casino would create crime, noise, pollution and businesses that offer payday loans no faxing and other forms of credit. Casino Free Philadelphia organized a candlelight vigil at the opening of the Sugarhouse Casino to “voice sadness for people who organizers say are sure to gamble away their savings.”

The arguments for Sugarhouse Casino

Though there has been a strong lobby against the Sugarhouse Casino, most residents of Fishtown, where the casino is located, are happy to see the casino opened. Sugarhouse Casino has already paid $175,000 to the Special Services District, which is being used for arts, sports, schools and veterans’ affairs services. The casino has also hired over 800 full-time employees in an area hit hard by unemployment.

Future plans for the Sugarhouse Casino

Though the Sugarhouse Casino currently has 40 gaming tables and 1,600 slot machines, that is 400 less than originally planned. Future plans for the Sugarhouse Casino include a parking garage, luxury hotel and spa. Opponents of the casino vow to start campaigns aimed at reducing the number of customers and revenue coming in to the new area business. Though many are concerned about this new “dangerous neighbor,” the industrial-area casino may very well prove to be a badly needed economic stimulus.

Sources:

My Fox Philly
Philly.com