Federal officials detained two people attempting to board a flight at the Golden Triangle Regional Airport on Saturday, airport director Mike Hainsey confirmed Sunday.
Authorities have released little about the incident — including why the people were detained or if they face criminal charges — but the FBI has contacted Mississippi State University for information on two former students, a university spokesperson confirmed Monday.
Local law enforcement agents declined to comment on the incident and directed questions to the state’s FBI offices. When contacted this morning by The Dispatch, Deborah Madden, a spokesperson with the FBI in Jackson, declined to comment, citing an ongoing investigation.
Hainsey said he could not comment fully on the incident but confirmed the incident occurred in the terminal about 6:30 a.m. Saturday. An Atlanta-bound flight was scheduled for departure at that time. It is not known if the persons of interest were scheduled to board another flight once they reached their destination.
Hainsey said it was the “first time in my 12 years” that federal authorities had detained anyone at GTRA.
Oktibbeha County law enforcement agents said they are aware of the incident and directed questions to the FBI. Both Sheriff Steve Gladney and Starkville Police Chief Frank Nichols declined to comment. Lowndes County Sheriff Mike Arledge declined to comment as well, but said he was made aware of the situation Saturday by a deputy stationed at the airport.
“All we can say at this point is MSUPD and Student Affairs are fully cooperating with the FBI,” MSU Chief Communications Officer Sid Salter said this morning. “We were notified early Sunday morning and have been working with law enforcement since that time.”
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