Just recently, the Miami International Airport was shut down for many hours on Friday after security spotted a canister inside the luggage of a scientist. It was later found out that the canister turned was a legitimate experiment.

Concern over this event started to increase overnight when authorities learned that the 70-year-old scientist once spent time in prison nearly a decade ago for illegally shipping vials of deadly bubonic plague bacteria. After a round of questioning, the man was told by the FBI that he was free to go. Right now media sources are not naming the scientists, who is a United States citizen. He is not being named because he was not charged in this event.

This normally very big airport was closed for more than seven hours after security spotted the metal canister in the man’s bags. United States government officials said that the canister greatly resembled a pipe bomb. The authorities went on to say that the men fully cooperated and told investigators that the canister was used for medical testing.

Authorities did tell the media that the canister was not explosive. After authorities opened the canister, they found a secondary container within. Apparently investigators said that the container was used to transport dead bacteria samples. Thus, the container was a legitimate experiment and no harm was done.

Due to the man’s criminal history it is easy to see why authorities chose to shut down the airport. Authorities said it is always better to be safe than sorry. They would rather shut down the airport for a few hours than risk peoples’ safety.