OT...Anyone flying in from LAX? Heard the airport CLOSED DOWN......

[Lois R]

:confused: Hi....just heard "BREAKING NEWS".......that LAX closed down....anyone flying in from there?........
Wow...from FL To CALIF....any of ya'll out that way~maybe you could give us an update......

[gliles]

Nothing on CNN.com, what did they say the reason was?

[Krazy Kruizers]

Do you know why LAX is closed?

I didn't think that they were having any bad weather out there.

[gliles]

They don't normally close an airport for bad weather unless it is really bad. My guess someone got through security who shouldn't have, that is usually the case. Let us know what else you hear. It is a holiday weekend and that usually means heightened security.

[Lois R]

Hi, I am watching our local news channel...they are affiliated with CNN and Post News...they said some sort of security was breached...:eek: :confused: ....No flights are departing......but they are allowing flights in......

[iluvcruzin]

LOS ANGELES -- Hurricane Frances prompted airlines to ground flights from Los Angeles International Airport to Fort Lauderdale and Orlando on Friday, and flights to Atlanta were delayed, an LAX official said.



Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood and Orlando international airports were closed because of the impending storm, and service from LAX to those airports was suspended, according to the Los Angeles World Airports Web site.

The rest of the article http://www.nbc4.tv/travelgetaways/3705450/detail.html

There's something about a False Alarm that emptied LAX and Ontario Airport that was posted about 8 hrs ago. Maybe it's that.. (still looking)

[stillfrantic]

Just saw it on the CNN ticker-Security Breach

[Smoky]

Fox News just reported two incidents at LAX

1. A security breach at check in and

2. An explosion in one of the terminals. Yes I said an explosion (according to FOX)


The airport is completely closed. No incomming auto traffic. In bound flights landing for the moment but not disembarking passengers.

developing!!

[Krazy Kruizers]

I thought maybe there must have been a breach of security.

Thanks for reporting.

[cruznon]

Supposedly security has been breached. CNN reported that a person was carrying an old flashlight with corroded batteries that "exploded" and several people were hurt.
CNN also reports a possible "suspicious" person.... nothing really confirmed.
Lots of police and emergency personnel and vehicles outside the international terminal.
CNN now covering this live. Some planes are landing supposedly. CNN says no flights departing. Authorities reportedly saying a "security breach" and it seems very unclear as to what is happening. MSNBC now also covering this live.

[FlorenceItaly]

Any estimation of when it may re-open for outgoing flights?

Marie

[Krazy Kruizers]

We are watching CNN and they just reported that there was some kind of an explosion in one of the terminals.

Doesn't sound like it is going to open very soon.

[Krazy Kruizers]

Fox now reports that a flashlight exploded and 7 people were injured.

Something sounds wrong here.

[sail7seas]

There, apparently, were two separate incidents....one of which was the 'exploding flashlight'. Airport is totally closed....no incoming flights allowed either. Fox News had an interviewer state there was a report of a 'suspicious person'.

[Smoky]

Local TV reporting that LAX Tom Bradley Int'l terminal is being evacuated.

Bomb disposal people on the way to terminal.

These kinds of incidents seem to take some time to clear, if even if there is no further problem.

[Smoky]

On FOX ---NTSB representative says explosive detector at baggage check went off and the item could not be matched to a passenger so the procedure to shut down was started.

[imsulin]

Security breach and some kind of flashlight "explosion".

[elmorejj]

Maybe that beats an explosive in tennis shoes LOL! No I`m not taking this lightly so don`t flame me, its just a thought on "corroded" batteries...hmm :cool:

[iluvcruzin]

Here's something different. Earlier the LAX location had a "orange" notification which means incoming flights had a delay. Now it's "green". The Florida ones are closed "blue"

OK.. unrelated to cruising but found it interesting.

http://www.fly.faa.gov/flyfaa/usmap.jsp

[LAFFNVEGAS]

Here's something different. Earlier the LAX location had a "orange" notification which means incoming flights had a delay. Now it's "green". The Florida ones are closed "blue"

OK.. unrelated to cruising but found it interesting.

http://www.fly.faa.gov/flyfaa/usmap.jsp
This is really a neat site, did you notice that Orlando and Fort Lauderdale are BLUE but MIA Miami was GREEN:confused:

[iluvcruzin]

Miami is still open. If you click on the button it will list those airports closed and why. Also if you highlight the blue ones it tells you information on when they closed the airport.

[dakrewser]

LAX re-opened about half an hour ago....

[FlorenceItaly]

LAX re-opened about half an hour ago....

Thanks for the update :).

Marie

[Lois R]

oops, yes, thank you...as I started this thread....I should have thanked you too Dave:)

[dakrewser]

oops, yes, thank you...as I started this thread....I should have thanked you too Dave:)
No worries, Lois, you've got enough to worry about right now...

-dave

[mhshapiro]

LAX reopened about noon today. The Los Angeles Police Chief held a news conference, which indicated that the "explosion" was caused by a flashlight with leaking C batteries in a passenger's bag. Unfortunately, it was one of those waterproof flashlights, so the gases from the leaking batteries built up inside the flashlight until it exploded. Several people nearby suffered minor injuries.

The security breach occurred in another terminal, but by coincidence, happened at approximately the same time. Unfortunately, the security breach occurred in a terminal that is connected to two or three other terminals (can't remember exactly). Thus, several terminals ended up being evacuated.

This caused authorities to close access to the main airport and delayed outgoing operations.

[anjan]

LOS ANGELES, California (CNN) -- Busy Los Angeles International Airport is getting back to normal after "two unrelated security breaches" forced the airport to close for several hours, Mayor James Hahn said Saturday afternoon.

"We do not believe these incidents are connected or related to terrorism," Transportation Security Administration spokeswoman Amy Van Walter said.

In one incident, eight people -- five TSA screeners and three airport baggage handlers -- were injured after a "small explosion" in the Tom Bradley International Terminal, Hahn said.

Hahn described the injuries as minor, with workers mostly complaining of ringing in the ears. The explosion occurred as a TSA screener searched the luggage of a Korean Air passenger, Los Angeles police Chief William Bratton said.

The screener noticed a plastic flashlight inside the baggage, and "apparently the batteries malfunctioned, causing a small explosion, disintegrating the flashlight," Bratton said.

A gas buildup from the malfunctioning batteries inside the flashlight is suspected of causing the explosion, said Chief John Miller of the LAPD bomb disposal unit.

"Based on what we know so far it appears to be an accidental explosion," Miller said.

In the other incident, a man apparently waving boarding passes went up the exit stairs of the United Airlines baggage claim area into the terminal, said Special Agent Matt McLaughlin with the Los Angeles branch of the FBI.

The unidentified man's breach of security led airport police to evacuate terminals 6, 7 and 8, and rescreen everyone inside. The man has not been found, Bratton said.

About 30 departing United flights were listed as delayed, and 17 of the airline's inbound flights were listed as canceled or delayed. according to The Associated Press.

Although the rest of the flights scheduled for Saturday are expected to operate, passengers were told to check with individual airlines for delays, an airport spokeswoman said.

CNN's Miguel ******* and Jeanne Meserve contributed to this report.