At 9.36pm Sunday, Twitter user Dan Archer posted a photo of a crowd of travellers he said showed “panic at jfk”, adding that the gates to airport security had been closed because of a “possible shooter”. Parts of the airport were evacuated.
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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.
The first report of gunfire came at 9:38 p.m. local time, with multiple calls soon following, the NYPD told CBS.
Police respond to reports of gunfire at JFK Airport, New York. Some passengers reported being put in a lockdown mode while others were evacuated. Some 45 minutes later, similar reports came in from Terminal One, the Port Authority of NY and New Jersey said.
Police said they had not confirmed whether any shots were actually fired.
Port Authority of NY and New Jersey said in a statement: “Preliminary investigation does not indicate shots were fired at JFK”.
However, Port Authority investigators found no indication of gunfire in the aiport. The ground stop was lifted at around 12:30 a.m. though delays are likely to continue throughout the night and morning. Police activity also closed the Van Wyck Expressway near the airport.
CNN says that “hundreds of bags and suitcases were left behind as passengers ran out of the airport”.
Port authorities said that in the early stages of their investigation they apparently did not find any weapons, bullet casings or gunpowder residue that suggests shots were indeed fired.
According to social media reports, airport staff and police did not clarify why the evacuation was necessary. However in the midst of the evacuation, some flights were diverted and others were held on the tarmac.
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“There are no reported injuries or arrests at this time”, the agency said.
