Multiple people have been killed in a shooting at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport Friday afternoon, the Associated Press reported.
Citing a law enforcement official, CNN reported at least five people were dead and at least eight others, and as many as 13, were hurt and being transported to a nearby hospital with injuries. In a sad and surreal scene, people were hiding on concrete stairwells at the parking garage and were seen rushing across the tarmac as terminals were evacuated.
The airport was shut down. Several planes are still on the tarmac with passengers aboard.
The incident occurred at a baggage claim inside Terminal 2, according to the airport's Twitter account. Passengers and workers at the airport were evacuated onto the tarmac. Reports say the incident happened shortly after 1 p.m.; at 2:45 p.m. there were unconfirmed reports of a second gunman.
Local police said they have a gunman in custody.
The shooter was identified as 26-year old Esteban Santiago, a New Jersey native, who allegedly showed military identification.
"We have no evidence at this time that he was acting with anyone else," Broward County Mayor Barbara Sharief told CNN. "He is currently in custody and we're investigating."
That was confirmed later by the Broward County Sheriff, who said there was no second shooter.
Broward County Commissioner Chip LaMarca was told by law enforcement that Santiago was an Air Canada passenger who took a gun from his luggage, loaded it in the bathroom, and came out shooting at the baggage claim area.
According to CTV News, under Canadian air safety rules, passengers can only pack firearms in their checked baggage provided the weapons are unloaded and in a locked, hard-sided container. Passengers must also declare the firearms at check-in.
The airport announced that all services would be suspended temporarily Friday and later revealed the airport was closed. As of 3:45 p.m., several flights still on the tarmac might be diverted to other airports in the area, officials said. Eight flights in the air had already been diverted to Miami International.
Kim Viljac of Bluffton, S.C., texted TravelPulse.com shortly after 4 p.m. and said: "I am on tarmac still on a JetBlue flight from Jax. All we can see are many planes waiting on tarmac and flashing lights closer to terminal. I believe we r the opposite side. Passenger r calm but upset. We r all watching the news. Our flight was due to arrive and bagged claim next door to shooter. Thank god we were delayed by our aircraft arriving late from Boston."
Florida Gov. Rick Scott has arrived at the airport to learn more.
An airport official said FLL processes more than 80,000 passengers a day.
Emergency responders talking on a live audio feed for the Broward County Fire and Rescue Division said at approximately 3:15 that there were people, presumably passengers and workers, who have barricaded themselves inside a restaurant in Terminal 4 and refusing to come out.
Delta Air Lines occupies much of Terminal 2 at FLL. CEO Ed Bastian issued this statement: "The thoughts and prayers of the entire Delta family are with the people of Fort Lauderdale and Broward County, and those involved in the tragic events today. We're grateful to the first responders on the scene who immediately went into action to evacuate our customers and employees. I also want to thank our employees in the operation in Fort Lauderdale and beyond who are working to re-accommodate our customers. The safety of our customers and employees is our deepest core value, and we are providing our complete support to authorities as the situation develops."
Preliminary reports indicate that all Delta employees are safe and accounted for. Due to the status of Terminal 2, Delta will be offering a waiver for customers to change their travel plans free of penalty, and will be published to the delta.com homepage.
Air Canada and WestJet told CTV all their passengers and employees at the Fort Lauderdale airport were accounted for and safe.
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