Passengers stand on line as they wind their way to the security screening area after a security breach closed the airport Sunday morning. (Craig Ruttle photo) | ZOOM |

        HEBRON — A Kansas man fled security guards Sunday at Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport and, when arrested, claimed to have passed a knife to an accomplice, forcing a three-hour shutdown of the airport, authorities said.

        The Sunday morning incident delayed thousands of passengers and ended with drug charges lodged against Charles Scott Cowsert, 40, officials said.

        Mr. Cowsert was in line for security screening at the Comair terminal in Concourse C about 9 a.m. when security personnel noticed an unusual bulge near his ankle, a U.S. Department of Transportation official said.

        The Council Grove, Kan., man removed his boots — as required by federal security screening procedures — but then ran in his stocking feet chased by security personnel, said Kathleen Bergen, DOT spokeswoman.

        Minutes later, Mr. Cowsert returned and was arrested, but he claimed to have handed off a pen knife to an accomplice.

        Mr. Cowsert later recanted his claim, but not before airport and federal security officials evacuated the airport's Concourses A, B and C so bomb-sniffing dogs and security personnel could search facilities and airplanes, said Ms. Bergen.

        Mr. Cowsert was booked on a Comair flight from Dayton, Ohio, to Cincinnati and then Florida, but did not board the plane in Dayton, said airport Police Chief Charles Melville.

        The airport reopened at 12:10 p.m.

        “We had to act as if he had a weapon,” said Mr. Melville.

        He said airport police later determined there was no pen knife or other weapon, or any accomplice, but that Mr. Cowsert did have a small amount of marijuana in his possession.

        Mr. Cowsert was turned over to Boone County Sheriff deputies, who charged him with possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia. He was taken to the Boone County Jail in Burlington. He is scheduled to appear in Boone County District Court this morning.

        Deputies said Mr. Cowsert appeared under the influence of intoxicants during their post-arrest interview and he refused to respond to many of their questions. They said he may face more charges as police continue their investigation.

        Thousands of air travelers in the airport were herded out of the Delta and Comair concourses, which handle 92 percent of the airport's flights. They were forced to pass through security screening again after the terminals reopened.

        Ms. Bergen said passengers on 10 flights that departed the airport during Mr. Cowsert's arrest were re-screened upon landing at airports across the nation.

        Incoming flights also were delayed on the tarmac during the shutdown.

        Neither Comair nor Delta officials responded to requests for comment.

        Loveland resident Greg Wandelt's flight to Los Angeles was delayed more than an hour Sunday, jeopardizing a crucial business meeting.

        “If it is a delay due to a legitimate security concern, then I'm appreciative,” said the software consultant.

        Tom Stachler of Anderson Township had to spend more time in line for his flight to Virginia because of the security precautions.

        But, he said, “I applaud the security staff and I appreciate the fact that they did apprehend him.”

        Sunday's shutdown was the second major closure of the airport since the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11. Last month a miscommunication at a passenger screening checkpoint occurred when one security officer mistakenly identified a knife in a carry-on bag and a fellow security worker searched the wrong bag. Soon after, the mistake came to light and the airport closed all three concourses.

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