The scare that closed the Miami International Airport for more than seven hours Friday morning was caused by a 70-year-old scientist who had a metal canister in his luggage that "greatly resembled a pipe bomb," a U.S. government official told CNN.
The item was rendered safe and no traces of explosives were found, the official said.
"So far there is nothing nefarious," the official said.
The man was detained but was not arrested and may be let go, the official said.
FBI Agent Michael Leverock said the man was cooperating with authorities and the item was being tested at a lab.
Most of the airport was closed for hours as a bomb squad team dealt with the suspicious item, which inspectors found when screening a checked bag.
A source close to the investigation told CNN that the passenger was an American and has a history that includes incarcerations. It was the man's history along with the suspicious item that ramped up concern, the source said.
So, if there were no traces of explosives, how could it have been rendered "safe"? Apparently it wasn't unsafe to start with.