Erroneous gun reports cause chaos at LAX

A man passes by the LAX sign.(Photo Michael Nelson epa)

Story HighlightsVehicle crash outside Terminal 5 caused passengers to flee and report gunfireAnonymous caller reported a gunman at a gate in Terminal 4Police say airport is safe but travelers must go through security again

A car crash just outside Terminal 5 at Los Angeles International Airport and an anonymous call reporting a man with a gun in Terminal 4 incited panic Friday evening and triggered a large police response.

LAX spokeswoman Nancy Castles said the vehicle crash outside Terminal 5 Friday night caused passengers to report gunfire.

Apparently there was a very loud crash. People inside the terminal did not know what was happening. Some people panicked and they self evacuated from the terminal reported KCAL9's Derek Bell.

A woman driving on the airport's arrivals loop at about 7 30 p.m. lost control of her SUV hitting another woman who was walking on a sidewalk before slamming into a parking garage across the roadway from Terminal 5 Los Angeles police Sgt. Mark Guardado said.

WZZM 13 tweeted that the car accident sounded like shots fired.

Soon after the car crash an anonymous caller reported a gunman at a gate in Terminal 4 Castles said.

Police arrived on the scene and conducted a sweep of Terminals 4 and 5 according to ABC Los Angeles station KABC.

One Twitter user posted a photo of police with their guns drawn that the Twitter user says shows the inside of LAX.

MORE TSA officer shot 12 times in Nov. 1 LAX attack

LAX Police Sgt. Ortiz confirmed to NBC Los Angeles that no shots had been fired.

Terminal 4 which was evacuated as a precaution has been deemed safe. Travelers must go through security again Castles said.

Some 2 000 people were evacuated from the terminals hundreds more were affected dozens of flights were delayed and a few were diverted Friday night airport officials said.

Both women in the crash were injured the pedestrian seriously. Details on their conditions were not immediately available.

On Nov. 1 a Transportation Security Administration officer died and six people were hurt when a shooter opened fire at LAX. Paul Anthony Ciancia 23 has been charged with murder in the case.

Contributing The Associated Press

Articles Source here