Rochester airport evacuated - KTTC Rochester, Austin, Mason City News, Weather and Sports

Rochester airport evacuated

Updated:

ROCHESTER, Minn. (KTTC) -- Early Tuesday morning, fire crews evacuated the Rochester International Airport after maintenance crews smelled a strong natural gas odor around 5 a.m.

Passengers and employees were let back into the airport around 6 a.m., but a gas company remained on the scene investigating.

An airport spokesperson says too much natural gas odor was added to natural gas in the airport's kitchen and the pilot light couldn't burn it off.

Natural gas providers add a chemical to the gas that has a distinctive, sulfur-like smell, similar to rotten eggs to aid in the detection of leaks.

No flights were affected.

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