Bomb scare closes gate at Navy’s Seaplane Base

Published 3:12 pm Friday, March 21, 2014

A teenager with a GoPro video camera was the cause of a false alarm bomb scare on Seaplane Base Thursday, causing the gates to close for more than an hour.

Someone reported to authorities they observed the teenager with the device “looking suspicious,” according to Mike Welding, public affairs officer for Whidbey Island Naval Air Station.

The event was treated as a bomb threat, Welding said, and the Navy’s bomb squad was summoned.

North Whidbey Fire and Rescue was also placed on alert.

“It’s standard procedure … all emergency services are going to respond,” Welding said.

The gates were closed at 5:45 p.m. as base authorities located the teenager, who was brought in for questioning.

The gates were reopened at 7:15 p.m., Welding said.

The gate closures caused heavy traffic and long waits for people trying to get on and off base.

The teenager is not facing any disciplinary measures, Welding said.

The informant, who was also a teen, “did the right thing,” Welding said.

“If you see something suspicious, let us know,” Welding said.