Bordoy 0 Posted September 4, 2004 LAX Closed Quote[/b] ]SECURITY ALERT CLOSES LOS ANGELES AIRPORT Three terminals at Los Angeles International Airport have been evacuated after two unrelated incidents sparked an investigation of a possible security breach. Airport spokesman Harold Johnson said a "loud sound" was heard at the airport. The sound reportedly came from a torch which exploded in an X-ray machine. There were initial reports of some injuries, but those reports could not be immediately confirmed. Paul Turk, a spokesman for the Federal Aviation Administration, said flights were not being allowed to depart. Inbound flights were being allowed to land but passengers were not being taken off the plane, Turk said. Traffic was being diverted from the airport. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
hellfish6 7 Posted September 4, 2004 Meh. The entire state of Florida is closed right now. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Winters 1 Posted September 4, 2004 Yeah, i can't even get a damn pizza Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Commander-598 0 Posted September 4, 2004 I heard it was a flashlight with corroded batteries. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
HotShot 0 Posted September 4, 2004 The torch going off was one incident, what was the second? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
gandalf the white 0 Posted September 4, 2004 The torch going off was one incident, what was the second? oh, some woman dressed in black blew herself up, nothing important... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Homefry 0 Posted September 5, 2004 The other was a potential security breach.... but I don't know any more than that.... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ralphwiggum 6 Posted September 5, 2004 . http://www.cnn.com/2004/US/West/09/04/lax.incident/index.html Quote[/b] ]LOS ANGELES, California (CNN) -- Busy Los Angeles International Airport is getting back to normal after "two unrelated security breaches" forced the airport to close for several hours, Mayor James Hahn said Saturday afternoon."We do not believe these incidents are connected or related to terrorism," Transportation Security Administration spokeswoman Amy Van Walter said. In one incident, eight people -- five TSA screeners and three airport baggage handlers -- were injured after a "small explosion" in the Tom Bradley International Terminal, Hahn said. Hahn described the injuries as minor, with workers mostly complaining of ringing in the ears. The explosion occurred as a TSA screener searched the luggage of a Korean Air passenger, Los Angeles police Chief William Bratton said. The screener noticed a plastic flashlight inside the baggage, and "apparently the batteries malfunctioned, causing a small explosion, disintegrating the flashlight," Bratton said. A gas buildup from the malfunctioning batteries inside the flashlight is suspected of causing the explosion, said Chief John Miller of the LAPD bomb disposal unit. "Based on what we know so far it appears to be an accidental explosion," Miller said. In the other incident, a man apparently waving boarding passes went up the exit stairs of the United Airlines baggage claim area into the terminal, said Special Agent Matt McLaughlin with the Los Angeles branch of the FBI. The unidentified man's breach of security led airport police to evacuate terminals 6, 7 and 8, and rescreen everyone inside. The man has not been found, Bratton said. About 30 departing United flights were listed as delayed, and 17 of the airline's inbound flights were listed as canceled or delayed. according to The Associated Press. Although the rest of the flights scheduled for Saturday are expected to operate, passengers were told to check with individual airlines for delays, an airport spokeswoman said. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
