Airport police say they are searching terminals on Sunday night, but there is no confirmation of any shootings or injuries. The airport said it requested a ground stop of flights from the Federal Aviation Administration on the south runway complex because of passengers who ran onto the airfield.
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On Sunday, active shooter reports quickly spread by social media and word-of-mouth, and passengers in five terminals fled or rushed through security checkpoints, airport police said. LAX is the seventh busiest airport worldwide in terms of total traffic.
A police officer directs a passenger at Terminal 7 in Los Angeles International Airport, Sunday, Aug. 28, 2016.
Los Angeles police searched the buildings and found no shooting occurred, police said. A review of closed circuit television footage found no evidence of the alleged gun shots-and police were at a loss to explain what had set off the melee.
The alert at LAX comes two months after police temporarily evacuated a terminal at New York City’s John F. Kennedy International Airport while they investigated reports of gunfire. TV helicopter coverage showed passengers being escorted across the tarmac and police searching a man dressed entirely in black, including cape, who may have been dressed as Zorro.
Callers reported gunshots, but after a chaotic night that saw panicked travelers running onto streets and the tarmac authorities determined no shots were fired and no gunman was at the airport.
It is unclear if the Zorro detainment is related to reports that followed immediately after of an active shooter in Terminal 8.
Fortunately, the report turned out to be a false alarm, but it caused 281 delays, two cancellations, and 27 flight diversions, according to LAX, which also said that three people were injured from getting trampled.
Airport officials said that a person wearing a Zorro costume was detained during the incident, but it wasnt yet clear whether the person had any connection to the evacuation.
Vehicle traffic was flowing again on the upper departure level during morning rush hour, but cars backed up on the lower arrival area, Castles said.
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Police from the Port Authority of NY and New Jersey evacuated the terminal out of caution, spokesman Joe Pentangelo said.
