Boeing's Auburn plant declared safe
AUBURN, Wash. - Officials declared the Boeing Co.'s Auburn plants safe again after a suspicious device found inside a bathroom triggered alarm Friday afternoon.
About 90 people were evacuated from the plant after a device was found on the premises, said Boeing spokesman Jim Proulx.
A bomb squad inspected the device, which consisted of a metal pipe filled with drill bits and rivets, and concluded it did not pose a threat. Crews also searched the premise and found no other suspicious items.
The evacuation order came less than two hours after Boeing's machinists announced they would go on strike at 12:01 a.m. Saturday after last-ditch efforts failed to negotiate a contract.
The 2.1 million-square-foot Boeing Auburn plant is reportedly the largest airplane parts plant in the world, making and storing more than 200,000 parts for Boeing commercial jetliners.
About 90 people were evacuated from the plant after a device was found on the premises, said Boeing spokesman Jim Proulx.
A bomb squad inspected the device, which consisted of a metal pipe filled with drill bits and rivets, and concluded it did not pose a threat. Crews also searched the premise and found no other suspicious items.
The evacuation order came less than two hours after Boeing's machinists announced they would go on strike at 12:01 a.m. Saturday after last-ditch efforts failed to negotiate a contract.
The 2.1 million-square-foot Boeing Auburn plant is reportedly the largest airplane parts plant in the world, making and storing more than 200,000 parts for Boeing commercial jetliners.