Terminal 2 at Los Angeles International Airport turned tense for a short stretch Friday night when airport police responded to a report of a suspicious item, briefly clearing the area and halting normal operations. Travelers and vehicles at the departures level were pushed back from the terminal while officers and specialized units moved in to assess the situation. The precaution stalled curbside traffic and ticketing activity for roughly half an hour.
Police Clear Terminal in Roughly Half an Hour
According to CBS Los Angeles, officers had reopened the area by about 9 p.m., roughly 30 minutes after the initial report came in. Video shared with the outlet showed airport police setting up a perimeter and guiding travelers to safer locations while the item was checked out.
How Airport Playbooks Handle Suspicious Items
Los Angeles World Airports' emergency procedures spell out exactly what happens when something looks out of place. The guidance calls for a wide safety perimeter around any suspicious article, including instructions that "a 300-foot area around any suspicious article will be evacuated." According to Los Angeles World Airports, airport police and operations staff work together on traffic diversions and passenger movement until the all clear is given.
Security Scares at LAX Are Nothing New
Partial evacuations at LAX are not unheard of. In July 2021, Terminal 2 was temporarily cleared after a suspicious bag turned up in a ticketing area, triggering road diversions and a bomb squad check. ABC7's coverage of that earlier incident showed how quickly even a short security check can ripple through airport traffic and flight schedules.
Officials did not immediately share further details about Friday night's item, and travelers were urged to check with their airlines and build in extra time for pickup and drop-off while operations settled back to normal. This story will be updated if authorities release additional information.
