Atlanta airport evacuated over suspicious package, reports of shooting
Atlanta's Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport was evacuated after a suspicious package was found, the airport announced on Twitter. Unconfirmed reports on social media said there was a shooting on the premises.
The public areas of the domestic terminal were evacuated, according to the airport's official Twitter account.
Out of an abundance of caution, APD is investigating a suspicious package and has evacuated the public areas of the domestic terminal.
— Atlanta Airport (@ATLairport) March 23, 2016
The "incident was cleared" shortly after the announcement, and people began returning to the airport's atrium area.
Panic #ATLAirport TSA instructed everyone to run and clear main terminal pic.twitter.com/XuXNJtgsbV
— Jimmy Alignay (@jimmyalignay) March 23, 2016
Airport officials told local ABC affiliate WSB that the suspicious package was found in the south baggage claim area. Both the north and south terminals were evacuated.
The package was labeled suspicious after an explosive dog alerted to it, according to airport officials cited by NBC affiliate WXIA.
#BREAKING Suspicious package at baggage claim at @ATLairport Evacuations underway.https://t.co/8HPtH87DXnpic.twitter.com/840FYbDe2k
— CBS46 (@cbs46) March 23, 2016
According to the airport, there was little impact on operations.
Scene leading up to departure area at #Atlanta airport after suspicious pkg found in baggage claim area #wsbtvpic.twitter.com/8QsG9OisN4
— Craig Lucie (@CraigLucie) March 23, 2016
Meanwhile, unconfirmed reports on Twitter said there was an active shooter in the area.
WTF SOMEONE JUST STARTED SHOOTING IN THE ATL AIRPORT RIGHT BY MY GIRLS TERMINAL SHE WAS ABOUT TO BOARD PLANE EVERY1 HAD TO EVACUATE N RUN!
— IG: missjudijai (@JUDiJAiKRAZi) March 23, 2016
I just ran the fastest in my fucking life almost got shot smh mfz shooting in the fucking airport wtf
— OfficialACstyle (@ACstyle) March 23, 2016
Suspicious package. Active shooter! All in Atlanta.
— Heather Poole (@Heather_Poole) March 23, 2016
However, the Atlanta Police Department later clarified that there was no active shooter at the airport, despite reports on social media.
There is no active shooter at the airport. A suspicious package has been cleared. ALL is OK!
— Atlanta Police Dept (@Atlanta_Police) March 23, 2016
Hartsfield-Jackson is the world's busiest airport. In 2015, it became the first to handle 100 million passengers in a year.