JFK Airport Evacuated Due to Reports of Gunfire Shots
Travelers at the JFK Airport rushed to the exits Sunday night due to reports of gunfire heard inside the airport. Port authorities and police responded quickly evacuating all passengers from two terminals and temporarily closing off a nearby highway. JFK staff and employees put a brave front and risked life and limb as they tried to help passengers, young and old, get to safety.
The Port Authorities quick reaction and smooth coordination with the NYPD lead to a great deployment of police men in both Kennedy and La Guardia Airports saving lives and preventing injuries.
Port Authority Joe Pentangelo said that sounds of gunfire and stampede in the departures area of Terminal 8 reached his office around 9:30pm Sunday prompting the Airport to immediately lock down the terminal and call the Police. Panic and chaos ensued which escalated when Police received calls that new gunshots were heard in Terminal 1 prompting them to also locked down that area. The Van Wyck Expressway, a nearby highway, was closed to add further security and help prevent the situation from further getting out of hand.
The dramatic stampede and evacuation quickly spread in social media with some passengers sharing pictures of people visibly shook and utterly stressed. Passengers who had just arrived and those who were bound to leave were in a state of great apprehension fearful of a possible shooter lurking in the airport. Passengers in one airline who were scheduled to fly for Los Angeles had to nervously wait in their seats when the pilot announced that all flights had been put on hold due to the unprecedented commotion happening in Terminals 8 and 1.
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. Nonetheless full evacuation of Terminals 1 and 8 were fully enacted. They have not yet given any statement on who gave the alarm about the supposed gunshots.
The NYPD's chief of the special operations concurred with the port authorities stating in twitter that all suspected terminals that have been related to the gunshots were thoroughly searched and all evidence seems suggests that gun shots were not fired.
Armed policemen manned all the entrance and exits in the airport and reported to the weary travelers that no shooter or weapon was found. Passengers were ushered back in but were advised to stay vigilant and not let their guard down.
