Passengers were removed from a Southwest Airlines flight at Midway Airport in Chicago on the afternoon of Jan. 25 after an "unusual item" was found on board, airport officials said.

The unidentified item was spotted as Flight 2543, bound for Detroit, was pulling away from the gate around 1:15 p.m. local time, and the plane was searched, according to the U.S. Transportation Security Administration (TSA).

"The pilot returned the plane to the gate where all passengers and carry-on items were rescreened, with negative findings," the TSA said in a press release.