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Woman tries to "test" security at BWI airport

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Three Southwest Airlines planes were delayed Saturday and scores of passengers were evacuated when an unidentified woman tried to "test" security at a checkpoint at BWI airport, outside Baltimore.

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FAA spokesman Paul Takemoto said Corridor B -- where Southwest Airlines operates -- was closed, and all passengers there had to leave while a security check was conducted. Airport officials confirmed the incident.

One plane, that had pushed back from the gate, was told to return, and two others were delayed by the incident, he said.

The woman, who Takemoto said had tried to bring something through the checkpoint to test security, was detained but later released.

The incident occurred at about 7:30 a.m. Passengers had to be re-screened before boarding their planes . The 16-gate gate corridor returned to normal operations at about 10 a.m., Takemoto said.

The incident underscored the FAA's "zero tolerance" policy that requires shutdown of all affected operations until any security situation is resolved, Takemoto said.