The Associated Press

CLEVELAND - Federal security officials put Cleveland Hopkins International Airport on a temporary lockdown Friday because of a toy gun on a child's belt buckle in carry-on luggage.

For about 40 minutes starting at 4:15 p.m., no one could pass through the security checkpoints or board a plane, and no planes could take off, said Rick DeChant, Cleveland spokesman for the Transportation Security Administration.

A "handful" of flights were delayed and some travelers probably missed connections, DeChant said, but he could not provide specifics.

Security screeners were able to lift the alert when they determined the item was a toy gun that was part of a child's belt buckle. It was confiscated.

"Had Mom or Dad helped this kid pack, this could have been avoided," DeChant said.

Travelers should be especially careful while the nation is at code "orange," the second-highest level of security alert, he said.

"We unfortunately see travelers returning to a lot of bad habits," DeChant said. "We still continue to see people come through with scissors ... with box cutters that we are confiscating."