Alaska Airlines Apologizes After Employee Causes Panic at Newark Airport by Yelling for Evacuation
Alaska Airlines issued an apology Tuesday a day after one of its employees caused a panic at Newark Liberty International Airport by screaming for passengers to evacuate a terminal in what turned out to be a false alarm.
“We sincerely apologize for the experience our guests and other airline passengers had at Newark last night," the airline said in an emailed statement Tuesday. “Alaska Airlines values the safety of our guests as our highest priority. We’re conducting a thorough investigation to determine what occurred.”
A Port Authority spokeswoman said Tuesday morning and again in the afternoon that there is “no update” on the bizarre incident, which began when a gate attendant hit a panic alarm button after an encounter with two men inside Terminal A at around 8:30 p.m. Monday. She then began yelling for passengers to evacuate the terminal as the two men ran away.
About 150 to 200 passengers in Terminal A “self-evacuated” on a ramp outside Gate 30 around 8:30 p.m., a Port Authority spokesman said Monday night.
Videos on social media showed a chaotic scene - people running through the terminal, leaving bags behind and then convening on the tarmac.
A search of the airport turned up nothing suspicious and passengers returned to the terminal after passing through security for a second time. Both men were found, questioned and later released.
The flight attendant was also interviewed by police, though officials haven’t disclosed the results of that conversation.
Seattle-based Alaska Airlines said its customers were provided hotel accommodations for the night and rebooked on a flight departing Newark on Tuesday morning.
Jeff Goldman may be reached at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @JeffSGoldman.
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