SFO security lines closed for an hour after loaded magazine gets through security

FILE PHOTO: Hundreds of passengers wait to go through a TSA security checkpoint before catching their flights at San Francisco International Airport in San Francisco, Calif. Wednesday, Dec. 19, 2018. FILE PHOTO: Hundreds of passengers wait to go through a TSA security checkpoint before catching their flights at San Francisco International Airport in San Francisco, Calif. Wednesday, Dec. 19, 2018. Photo: Jessica Christian / The Chronicle 2018 Buy photo Photo: Jessica Christian / The Chronicle 2018 Image 1 of / 1 Caption Close SFO security lines closed for an hour after loaded magazine gets through security 1 / 1 Back to Gallery

A security incident at San Francisco International Airport Saturday morning led to the closure of security lines and the grounding of United Airlines flights at Terminal 3.

Airport Duty Manager Chris Morgan told SFGATE that security lines were shut down for an hour after a TSA mistake led to a passenger bringing a loaded magazine into the terminal.

At 6:35 a.m., TSA agents identified a "threat item" in a passenger's bag during security screening, according to Morgan, but the wrong bag was pulled from the security line and the actual bag containing the magazine was grabbed by the owner.

"The passenger did what any passenger would," Morgan said. "The passenger was unaware he did anything wrong."

TSA agents realized the mistake and shut down security lines as they attempted to find the passenger with the loaded magazine.

They located the passenger at 7:35 a.m., and security lines were re-opened. All United flights were grounded due to the incident.

Morgan said there was no firearm in the bag, just the loaded magazine.

A number of people at the airport tweeted photos and videos of the scene inside the airport.

This story is developing. It will be updated as soon as more information is made available.

Eric Ting is an SFGATE staff writer. Email him at eting@sfchronicle.com and follow him on Twitter

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