Police evacuate JFK Terminal 8 after reports of shooting (no evidence found) [Aug 14]
Aug 14, 2016, 8:32 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: London
Programs: BA: Silver, Etihad: Silver
Posts: 16
Police evacuate JFK Terminal 8 after reports of shooting (no evidence found) [Aug 14]
There is panic on social media after a suspected shooting at JFK airport being reported, Police are evacuating terminal 8 at JFK airport. It is being reported by local and International news outlets.
Daily Mail (UK):
EDIT 15Aug 03:20UTC: The Port Authority report that there is no evidence that there is a gunman and no evidence that any shots were fired. NYPD assisting with the investigation.
Daily Mail (UK):
There was panic at New York's JFK Airport as passengers were evacuated and flights were diverted amid a police response to reports of shots being fired inside Terminal 8.
A massive police response has begun at the airport, in Queens, on Sunday evening, in response to reports of an active shooter, but no other details were immediately available.
Passengers on social media reported flights due to land at JFK were being diverted to Buffalo Airport in upstate New York.
Dan Archer, who was in the terminal at the time, reported 'panic' as gates were closed at security due to a 'possible shooter.'
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/arti...-New-York.html
A massive police response has begun at the airport, in Queens, on Sunday evening, in response to reports of an active shooter, but no other details were immediately available.
Passengers on social media reported flights due to land at JFK were being diverted to Buffalo Airport in upstate New York.
Dan Archer, who was in the terminal at the time, reported 'panic' as gates were closed at security due to a 'possible shooter.'
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/arti...-New-York.html
Last edited by jackthewelshman; Aug 14, 2016 at 9:21 pm Reason: Adding quote tags
Aug 14, 2016, 9:19 pm
#3
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: London
Programs: BA: Silver, Etihad: Silver
Posts: 16
Sounds like it was just a scare over nothing, after some witnesses reported what they thought were gunshots in caution. Port Authority PD now reporting:
"Preliminary investigation does not indicate shots were fired at JFK. There are no injuries. At this time, no gun shells or other evidence of shots fired has been found"
http://pix11.com/2016/08/14/reported...t-jfk-airport/.
http://pix11.com/2016/08/14/reported...t-jfk-airport/.
Aug 15, 2016, 8:24 am
#4
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: LAX
Programs: AA PLT
Posts: 67
We were in Terminal 8 in the midst of this incident. Half of the terminal was evacuated and those of us at Gates 30-34 were initially told to stay put. At one point, there was mass hysteria in our gate area, with all passengers screaming and taking cover under chairs and behind the ticket counter. Shortly after (at around 10:30pm) we were were told to leave our bags and evacuate with hands up. There was a massive armed police presence.
As we reached the evacuation exit, police told us to wait and there would be an announcement shortly. About 20 minutes later we were told to return to our gates and find our bags. Our 9:00 flight to LAX was canceled after a 4 hour delay (along with about 90% of the flights), but after booking a UA flight on the phone from EWR for the next day, we discovered one flight leaving for LAX at 2:00am and miraculously managed to get on. It was quite an ordeal.
Rumor has it that the initial 'ear witness' heard people cheering for the Olympics and mistook their banging on the table for gunfire.
As we reached the evacuation exit, police told us to wait and there would be an announcement shortly. About 20 minutes later we were told to return to our gates and find our bags. Our 9:00 flight to LAX was canceled after a 4 hour delay (along with about 90% of the flights), but after booking a UA flight on the phone from EWR for the next day, we discovered one flight leaving for LAX at 2:00am and miraculously managed to get on. It was quite an ordeal.
Rumor has it that the initial 'ear witness' heard people cheering for the Olympics and mistook their banging on the table for gunfire.
Aug 16, 2016, 8:02 am
#5
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: NYC/Northern NJ
Programs: 1K - UAL, Platinum DL, Marriott, Hilton, SPG
Posts: 1,815
I understand everyone should be a good citizen but the Port Authority or airlines should pursue and file charges because you have to be a special type of stupid to think someone banging on a table or stomping their feet is equal to gunfire.
Aug 16, 2016, 4:43 pm
#6
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: ELP
Programs: AAdvantage, Amex MR
Posts: 2,314
Saw on the facebook comments on a news article about this that a good amount of employees at JFK terminal 8 are west indian, cheering on their boy Usain Bolt at the time this happened.
I am embarrased for the state of our country when we are so paranoid we mistake loud hooping and hollering for fighting and gunfire.
I am embarrased for the state of our country when we are so paranoid we mistake loud hooping and hollering for fighting and gunfire.
Aug 17, 2016, 5:17 pm
#7
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: FCA
Programs: Hilton Diamond, Alaska MVP Gold
Posts: 925
First hand account: Scenes From the Terrifying, Already Forgotten JFK Airport Shooting That Wasn’t
Should be a scandal.
Should be a scandal.
Aug 18, 2016, 7:28 pm
#8
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: NYC
Posts: 8,498
The parts I find most insane are that there were multiple incidents of mass hysteria in various terminals over a period of a few hours and the authorities had absolutely no ability to quell any of it. But the whole thing is unreal.
Aug 22, 2016, 7:02 am
#9
Join Date: Aug 2012
Posts: 3,526
We were in Terminal 8 in the midst of this incident. Half of the terminal was evacuated and those of us at Gates 30-34 were initially told to stay put. At one point, there was mass hysteria in our gate area, with all passengers screaming and taking cover under chairs and behind the ticket counter. Shortly after (at around 10:30pm) we were were told to leave our bags and evacuate with hands up. There was a massive armed police presence.
As we reached the evacuation exit, police told us to wait and there would be an announcement shortly. About 20 minutes later we were told to return to our gates and find our bags. Our 9:00 flight to LAX was canceled after a 4 hour delay (along with about 90% of the flights), but after booking a UA flight on the phone from EWR for the next day, we discovered one flight leaving for LAX at 2:00am and miraculously managed to get on. It was quite an ordeal.
Rumor has it that the initial 'ear witness' heard people cheering for the Olympics and mistook their banging on the table for gunfire.
As we reached the evacuation exit, police told us to wait and there would be an announcement shortly. About 20 minutes later we were told to return to our gates and find our bags. Our 9:00 flight to LAX was canceled after a 4 hour delay (along with about 90% of the flights), but after booking a UA flight on the phone from EWR for the next day, we discovered one flight leaving for LAX at 2:00am and miraculously managed to get on. It was quite an ordeal.
Rumor has it that the initial 'ear witness' heard people cheering for the Olympics and mistook their banging on the table for gunfire.
http://www.newsday.com/news/new-york...arm-1.12203075
Aug 22, 2016, 7:34 am
#10
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Mar 2001
Posts: 55,189