FBI Says Suspicious Package at Florida Air Force Base Contained ‘Possible Energetic Materials’

The FBI in Tampa, Florida, said on March 18 that a suspicious package left outside the visitor center of MacDill Air Force Base (AFB) earlier this week contained “possible energetic materials.”

FBI Tampa said in a post on X that analysis of the materials is ongoing, the investigation remains active, and the bureau is not able to share further details at this time.

Energetic materials can store large amounts of chemical energy, and include fuels, propellants, and explosives, according to Sandia National Laboratories.

The FBI said in a March 16 post on X that it was investigating reports of a suspicious package at MacDill AFB alongside Tampa Police. Authorities diverted traffic and closed MacDill Avenue south of the Interbay neighborhood as a precaution, the agency said.

The package was later cleared from the scene, and restrictions lifted, according to an FBI update later that day.

MacDill AFB also issued a shelter-in-place order on March 16 after a threat was made against the base.

“We take all threats seriously and are taking appropriate measures to prioritize the safety and security of our installation,” MacDill AFB said in a post on Facebook. “As a matter of policy, we will not release specifics on what security measures have been implemented.”

The order was lifted later that day, MacDill AFB said in an update.

MacDill AFB said in a March 17 Facebook post that it was operating under Force Protection Condition Charlie, noting that the posture allows it “to implement deliberate security measures proactively.”

Force Protection Condition Charlie is the second-highest military security level and, according to the U.S. Air Force, is applied “when a terrorist or hostile act incident occurs within the commander’s area of interest, or intelligence is received indicating a hostile act or some form of terrorist action or targeting against [War Department] elements, personnel, or facilities is likely.”

Personnel were advised to remain vigilant, follow the direction of security forces, and report any suspicious activity immediately.

Home of CENTCOM

MacDill AFB is the home of Central Command, which is responsible for overseeing military operations across the Middle East, Central Asia, and South Asia. Central Command has featured prominently since the start of the Iran war.

The base is also home to the 6th Air Refueling Wing, which manages the 99th Air Refueling Squadron in Birmingham, Alabama.

The 99th Air Refueling Squadron recently lost three airmen who were killed along with three others after their KC-135 Stratotanker crashed over western Iraq on March 12.

The flight crew included Maj. John A. Klinner, 33; Capt. Ariana G. Savino, 31; Capt. Seth R. Koval, 38; Capt. Curtis J. Angst, 30; Tech. Sgt. Ashley B. Pruitt, 34; and Tech. Sgt. Tyler H. Simmons, 28.

Klinner, Pruitt, and Savino were assigned to the 6th Air Refueling Wing.

Angst, Koval, and Simmons were assigned to the 121st Air Refueling Wing, an Ohio Air National Guard unit based out of Rickenbacker Air National Guard Base in Ohio.