WASHINGTON — Seven people were briefly hospitalized after opening a suspicious package containing a white powder at Joint Base Andrews, the US military facility near Washington D.C. that houses Air Force One, according to US media reports.
Initial tests conducted by a HAZMAT team indicated that the substance was not hazardous, and all seven individuals were subsequently released from medical care. Some reported minor symptoms such as headaches. Authorities continue to investigate the incident, which also involved the discovery of political propaganda inside the package.
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The base issued a statement confirming the incident, saying that buildings were evacuated as a precaution and first responders determined there were no immediate threats. The scene has since been handed over to the Office of Special Investigations for further inquiry.
Joint Base Andrews, located in Maryland, is routinely used by senior US government officials and was recently visited by President Donald Trump on an Air Force One flight returning from Florida. The package was opened in a building that houses the Air National Guard Readiness Center.
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Authorities emphasized that security measures were promptly enacted, and the incident did not pose an ongoing danger to base personnel or the broader public.