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Orlando Airport reviewing procedures after exploding lithum battery causes mass panic
Greater Orlando International Aviation Authority said it will conduct a full review after mass panic ensued when a bag containing a smoking lithium ion battery was discovered in the terminal.
The panic and evacuation of the terminal caused big delays and the cancellation of about 24 flights.
Airport authority CEO Phil Brown said the incident was initially under control but quickly descended into chaos.
In a message posted online, Brown said the smoking bag was moved away from passengers but some people ‘panicked and self-evacuated the area dropping their carry-on luggage and knocking over stanchions.’
"Others hearing the luggage being dropped, stanchions falling, and rapid movement mistook the sounds as gunfire and within seconds a spontaneous evacuation of the main terminal occurred."
"In an abundance of precaution the TSA directed the airport to have all passengers at every gate be brought back to the main terminal for rescreening, including all that had boarded a departing flight and those on aircraft awaiting to take off. No one could go to the airside until this was accomplished and gate areas were found to be secure."
Brown acknowledged issues in subduing a large number of people in full panic mode.
"We attempted various methods of communicating but as everyone is aware, a few trying to communicate a message to this large of a mass is a daunting task but efforts were continued throughout the event. Communications is and will always be an issue in this type of a situation," he added.
Orlando police took to Twitter to assure people that there was no shooting.
Flight operations in the affected areas did not resume until more than two hours later.
TravelMole Editorial Team
Editor for TravelMole North America and Asia pacific regions. Ray is a highly experienced (15+ years) skilled journalist and editor predominantly in travel, hospitality and lifestyle working with a huge number of major market-leading brands. He has also cover in-depth news, interviews and features in general business, finance, tech and geopolitical issues for a select few major news outlets and publishers.
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