Photo by Zachary Jaydon/Twitter
Orlando Police say a 37-year-old unarmed man was arrested after attempting to enter the west TSA checkpoint area for gates 1-59 at MCO around noon. During the arrest, a bystander falsely yelled that he had a gun, triggering a confused, panicked stampede of hundreds of travelers through TSA security and into the airport's main atrium.
"One woman said he had a knife, a gun and a hand grenade," said Jill Reeves, a witness who was set to fly home to Omaha, Nebraska. "Hordes of people were running from gates 1 through 59. It was the scariest moment of my life."
On Twitter, some said a man with a gun was tackled by police "before he had a chance to fire his weapon" and reported hearing "two loud pops."
But Orlando Police later confirmed there was no gun and any claims of an active shooter were false. Airport officials also confirmed that "no shots have been fired."
"In regards to the incident at the Orlando International Airport @MCO, all reports on an active shooter or a subject with a gun are FALSE," the police department tweeted. "Incident is contained and subject has been arrested."
This man was very near the TSA screening machines, in line, when he began acting extremely erratically, and two loud pops were heard. Everyone began to stampede and run from the screening area, into the secure area, and back out of line toward the exits.
— Zachary Jaydon (@ZacharyJaydon) February 16, 2019
Twitter users Samuel Sinyangwe and King Kunta also reported seeing people running in a "massive stampede" to get away from the incident.
Some panicked travelers rushed past TSA checkpoints, "which caused TSA to immediately suspend screening operations," OPD spokesperson Eduardo J. Bernal said in a statement. "Several travelers were injured due to the panic (pushing from the crowd) but all were minor in nature."
The man, identified by police as 37-year-old Ryan Scott Mills, was "taken into involuntary protective custody under a 'Baker Act'" on charges of disorderly conduct and resisting officer without violence, police said.
Orlando International Airport officials say screening has since resumed at gates 1-59, as well as shuttle service between the terminal and air sides. By 2 p.m., OPD confirmed on Twitter there was no threat to airport.
There is no current threat to the Orlando International Airport. As always, we ask for your patience with @MCO and @TSA personnel as they work to resume normal airport operations.
— Orlando Police (@OrlandoPolice) February 16, 2019
The incident was a shock to travelers and employees at Florida's busiest airport, where just two weeks ago a TSA employee jumped to his death from a hotel balcony inside the building's main atrium.
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