Deputies investigate ‘suspicious object’ found in Macon airport amid Raffensperger stop

The Bibb County Sheriff’s Office is investigating an incident at the Middle Georgia Regional Airport after an unknown object was detected near a campaign stop for Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger’s Tuesday morning.

The Macon-Bibb Emergency 911 Center was notified of the incident at 8:21 a.m. Tuesday, according to the sheriff’s office. Authorities said patrol deputies and E.O.D. Bomb Unit canines swept the evacuated airport and secured a “suspicious object” found inside a vending machine.

After a thorough sweep of the airport and further investigation, police said no hazardous devices were detected.

“There are no injuries reported at this location, and no patrons inside the airport when this object was found,” the sheriff’s office said in a news release.

Authorities did not specify what the “suspicious object” was.

BCSO Public Information Office Sgt. Christopher Williams said he could not confirm that a bomb squad was dispatched to the scene. Williams directed questions to the Georgia Bureau of Investigations and the U.S. Department of State.

Raffensperger’s event was scheduled for 10 a.m. at the Middle Georgia Regional Airport in Macon as part of a statewide fly-around tour tied to his campaign for governor, which kicked off Tuesday in Columbus.

Raffensperger’s campaign said the state official will continue the event after the investigation is cleared.

“When you stand on principle, when you do the right thing, when you put people ahead of politics, not everyone will like it. In fact, some people may try to intimidate you or do you harm,” Raffensperger said in a statement. “So yes, we are dealing with an active threat. And no, I will not back down.”

Raffensperger said he will continue to fight and stand for Georgia, but he provided no additional information.

“We’ll allow law enforcement to do their job, and we’ll prove updates when appropriate,” Raffensperger said.

Around 11:50 a.m., the sheriff’s office said the airport had reopened following an earlier closure while authorities investigated.

This story may be updated as more information becomes available.

This story was originally published May 12, 2026 at 12:01 PM.