Sprinklers Drench Passengers at LAX

Filed in archive Aviation Travel on June 24, 2007

As if tightened airport security, long lines, snippy customer service representatives, and delayed flights isn't enough to rattle passengers from flying, you can now add getting drench to the list.

In an unusual event, fire sprinklers at Los Angeles International Airport soaked passengers while they waited for their bags or flights. Passengers were evacuated and certain areas in the airport suffered flooding. A few flights were delayed or rerouted because of the incident.

About 30 minutes after the evacuation, passengers were being readmitted, officials said.

Long lines formed in front of the terminal, as passengers had to go through security checkpoints to be readmitted. Normally busy Sunday morning traffic was especially congested, and police directed cars around the terminal.

Dimity Carlson, 56, who had been visiting Los Angeles with her son, described a chaotic scene where people were rushing toward the doors and knocking over the check-in lines.

"We were inside and there was a rush of people, and they were yelling for us to go outside," said Carlson, of Tampa, Fla.

Carlson and her son missed their flight during the evacuation and were being rerouted through Las Vegas, she said.

At the Southwest Airlines check-in counter, computers were covered in plastic. The baggage claim area on the lower level was cordoned off, and sawdust and puddles of water lined the floor.

Garbage cans and buckets were spread out in a large section of the baggage claim area, gathering water drops that continued to fall from ceiling tiles.

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