ATLANTIC CITY — For the second time this year, Atlantic City International Airport was evacuated Wednesday afternoon due to suspicious items, authorities say.

According to NJ State Police Capt. Stephen Jones, security personnel observed items in luggage that appeared suspicious.

"Out of an abundance of caution, they had everyone leave," Jones said of the evacuation.

Police checked the luggage and determined that the items did not pose a threat to the staff or passengers at the airport. Jones said there were a few "innocuous items" grouped together that raised the suspicions of security officers.

Once the items were deemed safe, airport security began letting people back into the terminal. As of about 4:45 p.m., Jones said passengers and staff were already filtering back in.

This is the second time this year that the airport has been cleared. On Jan. 27, authorities ordered an evacuation due to reports of an explosive device inside the facility. A bomb squad was dispatched and investigated but police later said that the material was deemed “non-suspicious” and the terminal was re-opened.

Toniann Antonelli is a social content producer for NJ 101.5. She can be reached at toniann.antonelli@townsquaremedia.com, or on Twitter @ToniRadio1015.

More From Lite 96.9 WFPG