x

Society

After Shots Scare, JFK Resumes Operation

NEW YORK — Two terminals at New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport were resuming normal operations Aug. 15 after reports of shots fired prompted evacuations and grounded and diverted flights.

The reports, which led to some frightening moments for fliers the night of Aug. 14, were later determined to be unfounded and the airport was given the all-clear.

“At this time, no firearm, rounds or shell casings or other evidence of shots fired has been found,” said Joe Pentangelo, a spokesman for the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey Police Department.

Police evacuated Terminal 8 around 9:30 p.m. Aug. 14 as a precaution after receiving 911 calls about shots fired near the departures area.

Port Authority police called in officers from the New York Police Department to assist with the investigation.

A short time later, police closed Terminal 1 after they said they received additional reports of shots fired in that terminal. A highway approaching the airport also was shut down.

Passengers posted pictures and videos on Twitter that showed crowds of people gathered outside of the terminals.

Demetrius Pipkin told WPIX-TV that he was in Terminal 1 waiting for his Norwegian Airlines flight when the reports of shots fired came in.

“We were previously told to get on the floor and take cover behind any and everything we could find,” said Pipkin, who described the terminal as a “madhouse” with panicky passengers eventually bolting for the nearest exists.

According to the flight tracking company, FlightAware, all inbound flights were held at their origin until 11:30 p.m. “due to security.”

Port Authority police said travelers should contact their carriers. They also warned of a “substantial PAPD and NYPD presence” at JFK and LaGuardia due to the investigation.

There were no injuries reported. It was not immediately clear what led to the airport scare.

RELATED

Top Stories

Columnists

A pregnant woman was driving in the HOV lane near Dallas.

General News

NEW YORK – Meropi Kyriacou, the new Principal of The Cathedral School in Manhattan, was honored as The National Herald’s Educator of the Year.

Video

Over 100 Pilot Whales Beached on Western Australian Coast Have Been Rescued, Officials Say

MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — More than 100 long-finned pilot whales that beached on the western Australian coast Thursday have returned to sea, while 29 died on the shore, officials said.

BAYSIDE, NY – Daughters of Penelope (DOP) Ilion Chapter 135 continues to keep the light shining bright within.

NEW YORK – Mike Labatos, AHEPA District 6 Lt.

Cretans are known for loving their guns but the island has the dubious record of having the highest rates of suicide in Greece over the last 25 years, averaging 2.

ATHENS - Forgetting the 2010-18 economic and austerity crisis that saw people so desperate they were picking food out of rubbish and supermarket bins, Greeks are among the European countries with the ignominious title of food wasters.

Enter your email address to subscribe

Provide your email address to subscribe. For e.g. [email protected]

You may unsubscribe at any time using the link in our newsletter.