Reports of a shooting at LAX Airport have been found to be a false alarm, with the Los Angeles Police Department confirming a mass evacuation was sparked by unidentified loud noises.
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Hundreds of passengers ran from the terminals of LAX, while others lay on the ground as armed police searched the airport for a gunman following social media reports an "active shooter" was present.
Los Angeles police spokesman Andy Neiman said the reports were spurred by loud noises only, and authorities were still investigating the source.
"No shots fired, no injuries, investigation continues to locate source," Mr Neiman said, via Twitter.
But in a bizarre twist, the airport said an "individual in a Zorro costume" had been detained by airport police.
Social media is buzzing with images and videos of the alleged Zorro offender, although it is not yet clear why the person was arrested. There are unconfirmed reports the man was holding a plastic sword.
Before things got really crazy - a man in a Zorro costume with a plastic sword was arrested. pic.twitter.com/COdNEIb1pL— sam macon (@sayczars) August 29, 2016
@flyLAXairport @LAAirportPD pic.twitter.com/B9u8bbnmJS— AngryIndianMan (@AngryIndianMan) August 29, 2016
NBC Nightly News anchor Lester Holt was among those caught in the chaos as he arrived at LAX.
He said he was stepping off a flight when people began pouring out of a terminal onto the tarmac.
"Security said 'shots fired, run!'" he tweeted.
Mr Holt said a witness told him she heard "pops in LAX terminal four".
"Others say they just heard 'run!'."
NBC News reported police responded to multiple 911 calls from several locations at the airport about a shooting at 8.45pm local time.
The 911 calls came from terminals 4, 7, and 8, law enforcement sources told NBC.
Arriving at LAX off flight when people started pouring out of term 4 onto Tarmac. Security said "shots fired. Run!" Now in vehicle on taxiwy— Lester Holt (@LesterHoltNBC) August 29, 2016
Passengers began filing back into the terminals about 9.30pm local time, after police said declared the airport was "all clear".
Safely off the LAX Tarmac. PD search of terminals yields no confirm of shots fired. I heard "run" as crowd ran toward us but no shots.— Lester Holt (@LesterHoltNBC) August 29, 2016
It is the second time in a fortnight an international US airport has been evacuated following unconfirmed reports of gunfire.
John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York was evacuated on August 15, after similar reports of an active shooter. The incident turned out to be a false alarm, fuelled by incorrect social media reports.
Report of shooting at LAX proven to be LOUD NOISES only No Shots Fired No Injuries investigation continues to locate source— Andy Neiman (@LAPDNeiman) August 29, 2016
As reports of a shooting at LAX began gaining traction on social media, LA Airport Police confirmed they were searching for a gunman.
"Police searching LAX after reports. All precautions being taken to ensure safety of public. Remain calm. Thank you for your cooperation," one tweet said.
About the same time, LAX confirmed via Twitter that both the departures and arrivals levels of the central terminal area had been closed.
Police telling folks to run at #LAX pic.twitter.com/sfiYofrrqX— Megan Ming Francis (@meganfrancis) August 29, 2016
@LAAirportPD checking every terminal & investigating shooting reports. Once clear terminals, they will repopulate w/ pax who self-evacuated— LAX Airport (@flyLAXairport) August 29, 2016
RT @LAAirportPD: AIRPORT CTA ingress traffic closed for police activity. #LAXtraffic— LAX Airport (@flyLAXairport) August 29, 2016
BREAKING: LAX Evacuated After Reports of Shots Fired — PHOTOS https://t.co/iY7rvYp8gv pic.twitter.com/p98GStUPxv— PoliticReal-time (@PoliTimeReal) August 29, 2016
