WASHINGTON, Nov 7 — What began as a routine workday at Joint Base Andrews quickly turned into chaos when a staff member opened a mysterious package and a cloud of white powder spilled across the desk.
Within minutes, five people reported feeling unwell. Alarms sounded, emergency lights flashed, and personnel were ordered to evacuate the building.
HAZMAT teams in protective suits rushed in as medical staff treated the exposed individuals, who were later moved to Malcolm Grove Medical Center for observation.
Authorities have since said that initial field tests found no hazardous material, though laboratory analysis is ongoing to confirm what the powder actually was.
Sources told CNN the parcel also contained political pamphlets, though officials have neither confirmed nor denied this.
The base, which houses Air Force One and serves as a hub for senior US officials’ travel, has seen heightened security since the event.
Coincidentally, former President Donald Trump had visited the base one day earlier.
For now, the scare has ended, but the episode has left many inside the base uneasy — a stark reminder that in the modern age, threats can arrive in the most ordinary-looking envelopes.