Police at LAX said they detained two people Thursday night but reinforced there was "no current threat and no active shooter,” LAX spokesman Fred Badlissi confirmed to KNX.
Airport officials said no shots were fired and no weapon was recovered. Police detained two people for questioning. The dramatic scene began when a man yelled about "a gun" during a heated altercation in Terminal 1, KNBC reported. One man was reportedly released, the other was undergoing a mental health evaluation.
The FAA issued a ground stop for all flights around 7:30 p.m. as about 300 passengers in the Southwest terminal evacuated, some rushing onto the runway.
A woman who said her daughter had been inside Terminal 1 said she heard a gunshot and "left her bag … and hid at Chick-Fil-A [before she] ran into the kitchen to hide."
A person inside the terminal said they had to "run onto the runway" because of a possible "active shooter," saying they had dropped their luggage and were hiding.
The hundreds of passengers who fled, running onto the airfield, were transported away by bus around 8:30 p.m. At least two of those who evacuated were injured, airport officials said.
Around 8:20 p.m. the FAA reopened the south side of the airfield to flights, however, the north side remained closed. By 9 p.m., the airport said normal operations had resumed as the FAA reopened all runways.
Some flights were delayed at least 20 minutes or more. Travelers were advised to check their status with the airline.
Passengers who evacuated were told to retrieve their belongings at baggage claim. Those who had flights to catch needed to be re-screened by TSA.
LAX Airport Police are investigating.
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