The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) announced Saturday that it will begin an investigation into a false alarm from U.S. Pacific Command claiming a ballistic missile was headed to Hawaii.

FCC Commissioner Brendan Carr said in a statement Saturday afternoon that the FCC would fully investigate why the initial message was sent and was left uncorrected for nearly 40 minutes, sending residents into a panic.

"The FCC has begun a full investigation into the FALSE missile alert in Hawaii," Carr said, retweeting a similar message from FCC chief of staff Matthew Berry.

The FCC has begun a full investigation into the FALSE missile alert in Hawaii. https://t.co/1NRw1vgqpn — Brendan Carr (@BrendanCarrFCC) January 13, 2018

Minutes later, an official statement from the FCC's director of media relations confirmed the investigation.

"The FCC is aware of the situation in Hawaii and launching a full investigation into what happened," Brian Hart said in an emailed statement.

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An alert Saturday informed Hawaii residents that a ballistic missile threat was inbound to the island state, sending residents into a panic for nearly 40 minutes before a second alert informed residents that the first message had been a false alarm.

Hawaii Rep. Tulsi Gabbard Tulsi GabbardRepublicans call on DOJ to investigate Netflix over 'Cuties' film Hispanic Caucus campaign arm endorses slate of non-Hispanic candidates Gabbard says she 'was not invited to participate in any way' in Democratic convention MORE (D) tweeted in the meantime that officials had assured her that the message was a false alarm.

"HAWAII - THIS IS A FALSE ALARM. THERE IS NO INCOMING MISSILE TO HAWAII. I HAVE CONFIRMED WITH OFFICIALS THERE IS NO INCOMING MISSILE," she tweeted.

After the all-clear was given, lawmakers began to question how the false alarm occurred, and how it remained uncorrected for so long.

“The people of Hawaii just got a taste of the stark reality of what we face here of a potential nuclear strike on Hawaii," Gabbard said in an interview shortly afterward on CNN.

“This is a real threat facing Hawaii," she said.

"What happened today is totally inexcusable. The whole state was terrified. There needs to be tough and quick accountability and a fixed process," added Hawaii Sen. Brian Schatz Brian Emanuel SchatzPolls show trust in scientific, political institutions eroding Emboldened Democrats haggle over 2021 agenda OVERNIGHT ENERGY: Senate Democrats map out climate change strategy | Green groups challenge Trump plan to open 82 percent of Alaska reserve to drilling | 87 lawmakers ask EPA to reverse course after rescinding methane regulations MORE (D) on Twitter.