A United Airlines employee suffered minor injures after a battery shipped in a bag exploded at O'Hare International Airport, officials said.

The employee was taken to Resurrection Medical Center in fair-to-serious condition but officials said the employee sustained, "minor injuries", according to a Chicago Fire Department spokesman.

The explosion occurred as the employee was moving the bag and it burst open a little before 11 a.m., hurting the man's arm, fire officials said.

"The item was a sealed lead battery, which is permitted in checked baggage," the Transportation Security Administration said in a statement. "It was screened appropriately at its point of departure..."

Officials believe the incident was accidental and no criminal activity is suspected, officials said.

An United Airlines spokeswoman said while flights were not affected some passengers experienced delays retrieving their bags.

Transportation Security Administration officials said the item was checked in the C concourse of the airport. Police and FBI officials investigated.

The owner of the bag was interviewed by law enforcement officials. Although officials at first said the bag was orginally checked in at Houston, Texas and was destined for O'Hare, TSA officials later said it originated at Lafayette Regional Airport and headed for Bismarck Municipal Airport in North Dakota.