here's the latest news report:

http://www.adn.com/2012/10/15/266157...a-decided.html

"...An evacuation isn't necessarily mandatory when someone says the word "bomb" or makes a threat at the airport, he said.

"There is discretion involved," he said. "There's judgment involved."

In this case, the Alaska Airlines agent alerted her supervisor and a chain of command that ultimately led to airport police making the decision to evacuate.

"When there is a perceived threat to the safety of the traveling public our first response is to attempt to remove the public from that danger," Parrott said.

Some passengers and online critics have said that the evacuation was a costly overreaction.

Officials err on the side of caution, Parrott said.

"We're certainly open to criticism if people believe we overreact, but I can live with that a lot easier than the potential of under-reacting," he said..."