“Preliminary investigation does not indicate shots were fired at JFK”, Port Authority officials said in a statement today.
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Authorities received reports of gunshots at Terminal 8 at about 9:30 p.m., while similar reports prompted the closing of Terminal 1 at about 10:15 p.m., according to an e-mailed statement from the Port Authority of NY and New Jersey. Police say more than 20 people subsequently called 911. Two other law enforcement officials also said at least one person reported having heard gunfire. The Van Wyck Expressway approaching the airport also was shut down.
Images posted to social media show large crowds being evacuated. “No shots were fired”, he added on Twitter.
According to the flight tracking company, FlightAware, all inbound flights were held at their origin at until 11:30 p.m.
If cheering, clapping for #Olympics is really why ppl thought there were gun shots in JFK Airport, it shws the huge problem of guns we have.
There were no injuries reported.
Officials at the Port Authority of NY and New Jersey, which operates the airport, have initially deemed the response as appropriate given the perceived threat of a gunman shooting at an airport teeming with travelers.
The New York Police Department’s Special Ops team later tweeted that all terminals were searched and cleared following the clapping and banging. “The terminal was evacuated out of an abundance of caution”.
It’s not clear what had prompted the people to run.
Sherwin Bryce-Pease, a correspondent with South African Broadcasting Corp based in NY, was on a Norwegian Airlines flight from Paris that landed at JFK shortly before 10pm EDT (0200 GMT).
“They told us nothing from the flight deck”.
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As a safety precaution, Terminals 1 and 8 were closed as officers swept the area. Port Authority Police say they did not find any firearms, rounds of ammunition, shell casings or any evidence of gunfire.
