Several people sickened after opening suspicious package on Air Force One

Several people have fallen ill after opening a suspicious package that was delivered to the air base where Air Force One, the US presidential plane, is located.

A spokesman for Joint Base Andrews (JBA) in Maryland, near the US capital Washington DC, said that the site where the package was opened was evacuated and the people who felt unwell are now in stable condition, according to doctors at the scene, the BBC reports.

According to CNN reports, the package contained an unidentified white powder, and investigations into the incident are still ongoing.

This air base is where the US presidential plane, as well as its support aircraft, are stored and operated. It is where the president usually departs for his official trips.

The JBA spokesman said the building where the package was opened and another nearby building were evacuated "for security reasons," and the area was cordoned off by security forces.

"Emergency crews were immediately dispatched to the scene, determined there was no immediate threat, and normal operations have now resumed. Investigations are ongoing," he said.

According to CNN, initial tests by the Hazmat team (a special unit for hazardous substances) revealed nothing dangerous.

Investigators are also examining political propaganda material believed to have been included in the package.