Roads leading to Terminal B at Orlando International Airport were closed, traffic was redirected, and flights were delayed as law enforcement investigated a bomb threat on February 26th.
Orlando International Airport
In a post on X (formerly known as Twitter) at 5:52PM, airport officials said law enforcement partners were “investigating a call.”
Orlando Police received a call about 5:30PM regarding a bomb threat at the airport, according to the Orlando Sentinel.
⚠️Advisory: Law enforcement partners are currently investigating a call. Terminal B road traffic is closed. Please follow instructions from onsite airport personnel. Updates will be provided as the situation develops.
— Orlando International Airport (@MCO) February 26, 2024
Shortly before 8PM, airport officials reported that law enforcement has completed its investigation, and traffic patterns would be returning to normal soon.
Update/4: Law enforcement has cleared a call at Terminal B. Road traffic to Terminal B will reopen soon. We thank you for your patience and cooperation while our partners work towards resuming normal operations at Terminal B.
— Orlando International Airport (@MCO) February 27, 2024
People at the scene told DFB that those dropped off a few moments before the roads were closed were being kept outside and were unable to enter the terminal.
Photo courtesy of Julia Ripp
Apple Maps showed traffic back-ups on the roads leading to Terminal B throughout the evening.
©Apple Maps
During the investigation, Orlando Airport officials asked anyone driving to the airport to pick up or drop off passengers at Terminal B to follow the road signs to Terminal A or the Train Station instead.
Update/2: If you are coming to pick-up/drop-off customers at Terminal B, please follow roadway signage to Terminal A or the Train Station. Law enforcement is responding to a call at Terminal B.
— Orlando International Airport (@MCO) February 26, 2024
More than 30 flights were delayed between 6PM and 8PM at the airport, according to FlightAware. In social media posts, people at the airport reported blocked off escalators, and being re-routed to Terminal A to wait. Some arriving passengers had to wait during the invetigation before being able to retrieve checked luggage.
Neither law enforcement nor airport officials have issued a statement regarding the results of the investigation as of 8PM on February 26th. Keep following DFB for more.