Authorities in the United States are investigating a suspicious package that caused multiple people to fall ill at Joint Base Andrews, the highly secured military facility that houses Air Force One and serves as the home base for the U.S. presidential aircraft.

Emergency crews were called to the scene early Friday morning after personnel in one of the base’s administrative buildings began reporting nausea and respiratory distress shortly after a parcel was opened. The building was immediately evacuated, and the affected individuals were taken to a nearby medical center in stable condition, according to base officials.

“The situation was swiftly contained,” said a Joint Base Andrews spokesperson. “All individuals exposed are being monitored, and there is no ongoing threat to personnel or the public.”

Federal Investigation Underway

The FBI, Air Force Office of Special Investigations (AFOSI), and Hazardous Materials (HAZMAT) units are jointly leading the investigation to determine the origin and contents of the package.

Preliminary reports suggest that the substance inside may have caused a chemical exposure, though authorities have not yet confirmed whether it was toxic or deliberate. Samples have been sent to a Department of Defense laboratory for forensic analysis.

Officials have not disclosed how many people were affected, but local emergency radio traffic indicated that at least six personnel required on-site medical treatment.

“We are proceeding with an abundance of caution,” said Lt. Col. Curtis Callahan, a base spokesperson. “There is no indication that this incident was part of a broader threat.”

Security at a Presidential Facility

Joint Base Andrews, located outside Washington, D.C., is one of the most secure military installations in the United States. It houses Air Force One, Marine One, and the 89th Airlift Wing, responsible for transporting the President, Vice President, and senior U.S. officials.

The base has experienced occasional security alerts in recent years, but incidents involving hazardous materials are rare. Friday’s episode triggered heightened security protocols, including perimeter lockdowns and additional screening of incoming mail.

Broader Context

The incident comes amid an elevated national alert level following recent threats against federal facilities and high-profile officials. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has warned of an uptick in “targeted hoaxes and mail-borne chemical threats” across several U.S. government installations this year.

While authorities have not linked the Andrews package to any broader campaign, investigators are exploring whether the incident fits a pattern of recent mail-borne scares targeting defense and intelligence agencies.

The Takeaway

The U.S. military says operations at Joint Base Andrews have resumed under heightened security, but questions remain over how a suspicious package reached one of America’s most protected installations.

For now, officials emphasize that all affected personnel are recovering and that the base remains fully operational — but the episode underscores the growing challenge of securing even the most sensitive facilities against unconventional threats.