Fort Lauderdale Airport evacuated due to ‘security incident’

• Fort Lauderdale Airport was evacuated Sunday night in response to a “security-related incident.”
• The upper floor of Terminal 1 was evacuated while the airport’s departure entrance was temporarily closed out of an abundance of caution
• One online commenter reported that a suspect was observed going through the Clear Secure line “with something he shouldn’t have.”

Fort Lauderdale Airport was evacuated due to a “security incident.”

The airport posted a statement online early Sunday evening.

“Due to a developing security-related incident, law enforcement has evacuated the upper floor of Terminal 1 and temporarily closed the Fort Lauderdale departure entrance in an abundance of caution until further notice.”

Airport security and police are advising people to avoid the airport lobby while law enforcement deals with the issue.

One online commenter stated that one suspect was passing through the Clear Secure security line “with something he shouldn’t have.”

Passengers affected by the evacuation were dissatisfied with the lack of communication by the airport authorities.

“Since someone was evacuated over an hour ago, an update is due,” Lauren Pickard wrote.

“I waited 1.5 hours with a child to get a taxi/Uber/Lyft,” one frustrated user wrote.

“The lack of communication with stranded passengers is unacceptable,” RCinHP wrote.

Traffic around the airport, including I-595, was halted as a result of the sudden closure.