In a surprising discovery, construction workers at San Diego International Airport unearthed what they believe to be an old, inert hand grenade in the area of Terminal 1, a spokesperson for the Port of San Diego confirmed Thursday afternoon. The grenade, which had been hollowed out and used as a training tool, posed no explosive threat. Harbor Police K9 Units and officers responded to the scene around 12:10pm, along with San Diego Fire-Rescue’s Metro Arson Strike Team (MAST).
Traffic to Terminal 1 was temporarily reduced to one lane while authorities handled the situation, but operations at the airport continued as normal. Airport officials emphasized that safety was their top priority, and the MAST quickly took possession of the device without incident. The scene was cleared by 1:30pm.
This incident comes at a time when San Diego International Airport is undergoing significant construction and expansion projects aimed at improving facilities and passenger experience. Terminal 1 has been under construction for three years to add 30 new gates and new restaurants, as well as a new parking plaza with an additional 2,800 spots. Such discoveries, while rare, are not unprecedented in areas with a rich military history like San Diego, known for its numerous military installations.
During World War II, the San Diego airport was operated by the U.S. Army Air Corps and featured a runway used by long-range bombers, according to the airport authority. "The 8,750-foot 'mega-runway' built to accommodate World War II-era long-range bombers made San Diego International Airport 'jet-ready' long before United Airlines became the first airline to offer pure jet service in September 1960," a post on their website read.
It remains unclear what will happen to the grenade or its exact origin. More updates will be provided as this situation develops.
Originally published on February 13, 2025.
