Travel plans for numerous flyers at San Jose Mineta International Airport were abruptly interrupted last Friday after a false fire alarm necessitated the evacuation of Terminal B. The alarm, which sounded around 8:20 PM, was later determined to be a false alarm. As a safety precaution, officials at the airport evacuated the terminal, according to Ana State, the airport's Communications Manager, as reported to The Mercury News.
Caught in the chaos, passengers were forced to vacate the terminal and were subsequently re-screened by the TSA before they could reboard their flights. This security procedure led to the delay of 15 flights and the outright cancellation of one flight destined for San Diego, which was not clarified until it was delayed, and how long travelers would have to wait. The incident concluded around 9:30 PM, and regular operations resumed shortly thereafter.
Lynn Lunsford, a spokesperson for Southwest Airlines, emphasized the efforts being made to mitigate the impact on passengers, per NBC Bay Area. "The airport is working through the process of reopening now. The remaining departures for the evening should be delayed until after the terminal re-opens, and arrivals are being held off the gates until things are back up and running. We plan to accommodate as many Customers as possible tonight," said Lunsford.
