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JFK airport in chaos after unfounded report of shooting sparks evacuations JFK given all-clear after unfounded reports of shooting cause evacuation
(about 1 hour later)
Travellers have been evacuated from two terminals at John F Kennedy International airport in New York following apparently unfounded reports of a shooting incident. Two terminals at John F Kennedy airport are resuming normal operations after reports of shots fired caused chaos for travellers as people were evacuated and fights were grounded or diverted.
The New York Police Department originally told AP officers were responding to reports of shots fired but could not confirm them. The reports were later determined to be unfounded and the New York airport was given the all-clear.
Port Authority police said they received the reports of shots fired at Terminal 8 near the departures area around 9:30pm Sunday. Police said they closed Terminal 1 after there were additional reports of shots fired. Port Authority police said they received reports of shots fired at Terminal 8 near the departures area at about 9.30pm on Sunday (1.30am BST). Police said they closed Terminal 1 following additional reports of shots fired.
But shortly later a statement from the Port Authority said early investigations had found no evidence of gunshots being fired. However, in a briefing early on Monday, Joe Pentangelo, a Port Authority spokesman, said: “At this time, no firearm, rounds, shell casings or other evidence of shots fired has been found.”
Statement regarding situation at John F. Kennedy International Airport. #JFK #PAPD @PANYNJ @NY_NJairports pic.twitter.com/eOBR0UnzVY The New York Police Department’s head of special operations tweeted that nothing suspicious had been found in a search of the terminals.
The NYPD’s chief of special operations said on Twitter that all terminals had been searched and cleared and nothing suspicious had been found.
JFK UPDATE: All terminals searched & cleared. Negative results. All affected terminals will resume operations shortly. No shots were fired.JFK UPDATE: All terminals searched & cleared. Negative results. All affected terminals will resume operations shortly. No shots were fired.
A senior law enforcement official told NBC the alert had been triggered when a woman coming off a plane reported hearing gunshots in the terminal. A senior law enforcement official told NBC the security alert had been triggered when a woman coming off a plane reported hearing gunshots in Terminal 8.
One official told the network that the noise could have been cheering and banging while travellers watched the Olympics. One official said the noise could have been cheering and banging while passengers watched the Olympics.
Official tells @NBCNews the JFK "gunfire" MAY have been people clapping and banging while watching the Olympics. https://t.co/dodSZe4dzFOfficial tells @NBCNews the JFK "gunfire" MAY have been people clapping and banging while watching the Olympics. https://t.co/dodSZe4dzF
The security alert led to travel chaos for thousands. The security alert led to travel chaos for thousands. The Federal Aviation Administration announced a “full ground stop” on all air traffic arriving at JFK until 11.30pm. Some flights were diverted and tracking website Flightradar said delays in the area were increasing.
The Federal Aviation Administration announced was a “full ground stop” on all air traffic arriving at JFK until 11.30pm. Some flights were being diverted and Flightradar.com said delays in the region were increasing.
Delays growing as authorities resolve situation at JFK. Some inbound flights diverting. https://t.co/IDw48RS9RX pic.twitter.com/ysjDTQY85aDelays growing as authorities resolve situation at JFK. Some inbound flights diverting. https://t.co/IDw48RS9RX pic.twitter.com/ysjDTQY85a
Aircraft movement in terminal areas starting up again. It will take all night to get JFK back up & running at 100%. https://t.co/Nu60PhCxNDAircraft movement in terminal areas starting up again. It will take all night to get JFK back up & running at 100%. https://t.co/Nu60PhCxND
An expressway approaching the airport also was shut down. An expressway approaching JFK also was shut down. Passengers were allowed back into some terminals and flights began departing again at about midnight.
Flights started departing and passengers were allowed back into some terminals at around midnight. Images posted on social media during the evacuation showed scores of people standing outside the terminals.
Images posted on social media during the evacuations showed scores of people standing outside the airport terminals.
Everyone is being kicked out of the terminal. Police on alert! #JFK pic.twitter.com/0r5WSdkFeCEveryone is being kicked out of the terminal. Police on alert! #JFK pic.twitter.com/0r5WSdkFeC
The scene outside Terminal 8 #JFK. Airport shooting. pic.twitter.com/W5dce6XRSGThe scene outside Terminal 8 #JFK. Airport shooting. pic.twitter.com/W5dce6XRSG
Travellers who had been evacuated from the building said police told them it was “not safe” to stay inside. Travellers who had been evacuated said police told them it was “not safe” to stay inside.
Panic at jfk theyre closing the gates at security-possible shooter pic.twitter.com/OJUIFaenEIPanic at jfk theyre closing the gates at security-possible shooter pic.twitter.com/OJUIFaenEI
Police won't say anything except "it's not safe to stay here" as we leave terminal 8Police won't say anything except "it's not safe to stay here" as we leave terminal 8
People inside the terminal described panic when the evacuation order was given. People inside Terminal 8 described panic when the evacuation order was given.
I tried to grab my belongings but when TSA security took off sprinting I left everything.I tried to grab my belongings but when TSA security took off sprinting I left everything.
One passenger onboard a plane that had landed at JFK said the aircraft was being held on the tarmac due to an “emergency”. One passenger onboard a plane that had landed at JFK said the aircraft was being held on the tarmac due to an emergency.
JFK: Pilot on this British Airways flight says an "emergency in another part of the airport." Been waiting to disembark for 1.5 hours.JFK: Pilot on this British Airways flight says an "emergency in another part of the airport." Been waiting to disembark for 1.5 hours.
JFK: Captain tells us it "might be some time" before we disembark due to an "incident that is occurring" in the airport.JFK: Captain tells us it "might be some time" before we disembark due to an "incident that is occurring" in the airport.
JFK, which has six terminals, is the busiest international air passenger gateway into the United States. More than 50 million passengers travelled through the airport in 2014. JFK, which has six terminals – two have previously been demolished – is the busiest international air passenger gateway into the US. More than 53 million people travelled through the airport in 2014.
Associated Press contributed to this report