Usain Bolt cemented his place in world track and field as the greatest sprinter of all time.
But his win at the Rio Olympic on Sunday night sparked a mass panic and evacuation at New York’s busy John F Kennedy International Airport’s Terminal 8. By now you’re wondering how does Usain Bolt race correlate with a panic at a airport thousands of miles away. We were wondering the same thing too.
One witness told us that some folks at the airport was watching the race and an entire section erupted when Bolt crossed the finish line ahead of American sprinter Justin Gatlin. People in another section of the airport panic and started taking cover thinking that there was a mass shooting in progress. Can’t blame them with whats going on in America these days.
Law enforcement officials evacuated that sections of the airport and conducted a thorough search.
Some travelers also reacted to the incident on Twitter.
#JFK rumor: one person told authorities they heard gunshots, which were likely to be people celebrating Usain Bolt's latest gold. Lol.
— Dahill Road (@Dahill_Road) August 15, 2016
JFK UPDATE: All terminals searched & cleared. Negative results. All affected terminals will resume operations shortly. No shots were fired.
— NYPD Special Ops (@NYPDSpecialops) August 15, 2016
Statement regarding situation at John F. Kennedy International Airport. #JFK #PAPD @PANYNJ @NY_NJairports pic.twitter.com/eOBR0UnzVY
— Port Authority NY&NJ (@PANYNJ) August 15, 2016
[Via]
but don’t fire no one over this, just warn them.
tru di place tun up loud when bolt shell it