Loud bangs lead to chaos at Los Angeles airport

Man in Zorro costume detained

Police responded to reports of an armed suspect at Los Angeles International Airport late Sunday, but have not found any evidence of a shooter, according to several news agencies.

Police responded to multiple 911 calls from the airport about a possible armed suspect, both NBC and ABC have reported.

"Reports of a shooting incident at LAX have been proven to be loud noises only," the Los Angeles Police Department said about 45 minutes after the 9 p.m. reports. There was no shooting and no injuries, police told NBC News.

CNN reported that LAX officials via Twitter said a Zorro-costumed individual had been detained by airport police.

Police responded to multiple 911 calls from multiple locations at the airport about a possible armed suspect, multiple law enforcement sources told NBC News. The 911 calls came from terminals 4, 7, and 8, law enforcement sources said.

Officers conducted two sweeps of the airport, NBC reported, adding that airport police spokeswoman Alicia Hernandez said passengers had self-evacuated and were not ordered to do so by airport police, contradicting reports on social media.

The Federal Aviation Administration implemented a ground stop for flights departing for LAX from airports west of and including Minnesota as the investigation unfolded, CBS reported. The ground stop lasted only 20 minutes and was lifted by 10 p.m. PDT, CNN reported. All terminals had been reopened and passengers were proceeding through federal security by 11 p.m. PDT, airport spokeswoman Nancy Suey Castles told NBC.

LAX officials later told NBC that around 20 flights were diverted during the ground stop.

Scores of people poured out of Terminal 4 onto the tarmac, the sidewalks and streets, The Associated Press reported. Airport police told the AP that traffic to the terminal area has been closed.

The Upper/Departures and Lower/Arrivals levels of Central Terminal Area are closed, according to Los Angeles Airport, CNN reports.