A gun scare caused panic and forced hundreds of people to flee onto the tarmac at Los Angeles International Airport, injuring at least two people, local officials and witnesses say. No weapons were found but one person was taken into custody.
The incident began at about 7:30 p.m. on Thursday when a person with a firearm was reported in Terminal 1 at LAX Airport. Air traffic control issued a ground stop at 7:39 p.m. as emergency services responded to the scene.
Approximately 300 passengers self-evacuated from the terminal onto the airfield,” a spokesperson for the airport said in a statement. “Airport police responded and detained one person for further investigation. There were no shots fired and no weapons recovered.”
One person suffered “moderate” injuries during the panic and was taken to an area hospital for treatment, the spokesperson said. A second person suffered minor injuries.
Other details about Thursday’s incident were not immediately available. Footage taken at the airport showed passengers walking in the vicinity of a plane, and dozens more were seen standing near a wall on the airport’s property.
The FAA has reopened the south side of the airfield, but the north side remained closed at 8:55 p.m.
Los Angeles International Airport is one of the busiest airports in the world.
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