No Threat To OIA After Man Attempts To Breach Secure Checkpoint

This holiday will be the busiest so far at MCO. Photo: Flickr Creative Commons


For the second time this month, an incident at a security checkpoint caused delays at Orlando International Airport.
Orlando Police said a man tried to enter a secure checkpoint area. While authorities attempted to arrest the subject, he reached into his pocket. Someone in line yelled the subject had a gun, which cause a panic in the screening area.
At 12:12 pm, a male attempted to enter the west checkpoint area of the airport. While attempting to arrest the subject, he reached into his pocket. Unknown persons at the screening area yelled the subject had a gun, which caused panic in the screening area.
— Orlando Police (@OrlandoPolice) February 16, 2019
Police said there is no threat to the airport and the subject has been arrested. There was no gun involved in the incident and no shots were ever fired. The man was taken into involuntary protective custody under a “Baker Act,” according to OPD.
Security screenings were on hold after the incident, and shuttle transportation inside the airport was temporarily shut down. It’s unclear why the man was trying to get through security.
Dozens of flights were delayed, but screening has resumed at the terminal.
Update: The West Checkpoint is fully operational but delays continue as the TSA works to safely and efficiently screen passengers. Please arrive early to the airport if you have a scheduled flight this afternoon and check with your airline for flight status updates.
— Orlando International Airport (@MCO) February 16, 2019
Earlier this month, a TSA officer died after jumping from a balcony inside the airport lobby causing panic at a security checkpoint and delaying flights.
Orlando International is the busiest airport in the state of Florida serving around 47 million passengers last year.
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