LAX terminals reopened after being temporarily closed because of security breach

Lanow.lax Hundreds of travelers waited on the sidewalk at LAX Thursday morning when officials shut down three terminals and delayed at least 14 flights because of a security breach.

All terminals were reopened within two hours of the 5 a.m. incident after authorities  found a man who did not go through proper security
screening, officials said.

Los Angeles International Airport  spokeswoman Nancy Castles said the man was selected for secondary screening but instead picked up his carry-on bag and went through Terminal 7 around 5 a.m. Thursday.

Security screening at that terminal and connecting terminals 5 and 6 was halted while airport police looked for the man. The terminals house United, Continental, Delta and smaller airlines. Airport police located the man and re-screened his bag.

— Kate Linthicum

Photo: Long lines form in front of Terminal 5 at Los Angeles International Airport after a suspected security breach. Credit: Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times