Security Breach Prompts Evacuation At Newark Airport Terminal

NEWARK, NJ — A person who went out a security door set off an evacuation at Newark Liberty International Airport's Terminal C on Monday, authorities said.

In a tweet at 10:42 a.m. Monday, Newark airport officials said a customer went out the door but Port Authority Police responded and that the incident was under control.

One person was in custody, NBC New York reported, quoting Port Authority police.

Flight delays were reported as Transportation Security Administration personnel swept Terminal C with bomb-sniffing dogs, passengers and the NBC report said. Terminal C is home to United Airlines, which has more than 400 flights per day out of Newark airport.

Matt Saffer, a reporter with The Weather Channel who arrived at Newark Airport to travel, described the scene as "100 percent total chaos" when passengers and staff were evacuated shortly before 10:30 a.m.

"People screaming, running, falling down steps....some people were mid check-in and are barefoot outside. 100% total chaos," he said in a tweet.

Airport authorities tweeted the situation was "under control" just after 10:40 a.m.

The evacuation sparked rumors from a bomb threat to an active shooter, and several people tweeted photos showing a heavy police presence in response to the security breach.

"People started yelling RUN so we ran," tweeted Kat McCullough, a producer with MSNBC.

The breach was causing flight delays of three hours, and planes that had landed just as the breach happened were still sitting on the tarmac, waiting to be permitted to go to gates.

Passengers on planes that landed as the breach happened were still waiting for their planes to taxi to gates so they could get off.

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