A major investigation is underway after a man with a knife was shot and injured by a police office after sneaking on to the tarmac and then into a secure airside building.
Police director Juan Perez said the unnamed man is in hospital.
It is still unclear whether he passed through TSA screening and how he managed to breach security beyond that.
"We got reports that the man was acting erratically," Perez said.
After police officers arrived he fled into a room where a confrontation ensued and an officer opened fire.
The incident took place near a passenger terminal, which caused the evacuation of Concourse J and one flight to be delayed.
The airport was already crowded with travelers fleeing the oncoming Hurricane Irma.
A full investigation over the Thursday night incident is underway by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.
