Labor Day Panic At Newark Airport, ‘No Threat’ Officials Say

NEWARK, NJ — It only took a single airline employee yelling “evacuate” to set off a panic stampede at Newark Airport on Labor Day, reports say.

Hundreds of passengers had to be re-screened as a precaution after running out of the Terminal A-3 satellite on Monday night due to fears of an active threat. Airport officials eventually declared the situation was “under control” and there was no immediate danger.

Multiple reports have traced the cause of the incident to an Alaska Airlines employee, who allegedly began to yell “evacuate” after spotting two men she deemed suspicious.

Nearly 200 passengers ran out of the terminal after the worker hit an alarm, a Port Authority spokesperson told CNN.

“Imagine you're starting to board and a frazzled attendant comes off the plane, stops the process, asks someone to call the police, then starts yelling, with increasing loudness, 'evacuate!'" one rider said.

Another rider reported hearing sounds that resembled gunshots, but added it was more likely glass being shattered in the ensuing panic.

Many people were so frightened they left their bags behind in the confusion.

“Most terrifying few minutes of my life,” one passenger wrote. “Being in terminal A at EWR about to board my flight when a flight attendant starts screaming evacuate. Absolute chaos. Currently standing on an active tarmac. I just want to go home.”

Police questioned the two men, eventually releasing them with no charges. The airline employee is still being questioned, a Port Authority spokesperson told CNN.

Opinions about the airline worker's actions were split online.

"This was the right thing to do," one person commented. "Imagine if this turned out to be a real threat."

However, another person said the worker should be fired.

"Creating a panic is not the right way to clear a confined area," they argued. "This is absurdly unprofessional behavior that hurts and terrifies people."

NJ.com reported that Alaska Airlines has apologized for the incident.

“We sincerely apologize for the experience our guests and other airline passengers had at Newark last night,” the airline wrote. “Alaska Airlines values the safety of our guests as our highest priority. We’re conducting a thorough investigation to determine what occurred.”

CBS New York posted the below video footage taken at the scene.

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