5 dead after shooting at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood Int'l Airport

Five people are dead after shots were fired at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL) near Miami, according to Florida's Broward County Sheriff's Office.

The Fort Lauderdale airport shooting is the latest of several airport attacks around the world. Last year, Istanbul's Ataturk Airport shooting killed 42 people, and the Brussels airport suicide bombings and subsequent subway explosion killed 16.

FLL is one of the world's 50 busiest airports.

Below you will find time-stamped updates as they come into the KIRO 7 newsroom. All times are PST. 

[10:31 p.m.]

Sea-Tac Airport Spokesperson Brian DeRoy said the Port of Seattle is continually analyzing post- and pre-security checkpoint areas.

“Our law enforcement remains vigilant and we always closely monitor events locally, domestically and internationally. The Port of Seattle Police works closely with other local and federal agencies. We do not discuss specific security tactics. Passengers are advised to contact their airlines regarding specific flights,” DeRoy said.

Seattle area resident Ellen Judson, a passenger on Southwest Flight 1874, said their plane departed from the gate at Fort Lauderdale minutes before the shooting began. She said she feels lucky they departed at that time, because the flight had been delayed.

“It could have been delayed even longer. I volunteered to give up my seat, I could have been there; my sister was still in the airport. She got out of there before it happened,” Judson said.

[7:01 p.m.]

Authorities investigating the Fort Lauderdale mass shooting call it a "fluid situation. They say that an additional 37 people were injured from falling after the shooting. They have broken bones and sprains, according to officials.

Eight people were injured in the shooting. All injured were taken to nearby hospitals.

The shooting suspect, Esteban Santiago, is in federal custody.

Leaders at a news conference confirm that Santiago walked into an FBI office in Anchorage. CBS News reported earlier that Santiago talked about ISIS while at the FBI office. The official at the news conference said agents in Anchorage completed their interview with Esteban Santiago and called the police, who took him for a mental health evaluation.

Investigators have not ruled out terrorism. At this time it’s too early for investigators to know why the shooter came to Florida.

The airport director said that teams worked most of the day to get passengers to safety.

[4 p.m.] 

Travelers are being let out of the airport nearly six hours after the mass shooting.

[3:45 p.m.]

TIME reports the shooting at a Florida airport Friday afternoon exposed one of the most glaring security weaknesses in the U.S.: areas inside airports that aren't subject to routine security checks.

The weaknesses of airport security in areas beyond TSA screening have long been a point of concern in the U.S.

Shortly after the shooting, U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson referred to the baggage claim area as a "soft target" which has been a particular concern of security experts.

"It's not surprising because people that plan incidents of violence—whether it's terrorism or other acts of violence—seek the least path of resistance," Jeff Slotnick, president of security firm Setracon, told TIME afternoon following the shooting.

[3 p.m.]

A military spokeswoman says the suspect in a deadly shooting at the Fort Lauderdale, Florida, airport received a general discharge from the Alaska Army National Guard last year for unsatisfactory performance.

Lt. Col. Candis Olmstead did not release details about 26-year-old Esteban Santiago's discharge in August 2016. Olmstead said that he joined the Guard in November 2014.

Puerto Rico National Guard spokesman Maj. Paul Dahlen said that Santiago was deployed to Iraq in 2010 and spent a year there with the 130th Engineer Battalion, the 1013th engineer company out of Aguadilla.

Olmstead also said that Santiago had served in the Army Reserves prior to joining the Alaska Army National Guard.

Meanwhile, Florida Gov. Rick Scott has arrived at the Fort Lauderdale airport and is asking people to pray for the families of those slain and wounded in a mass shooting at a baggage claim area.

[2:29 p.m.]

Embassy spokeswoman Christine Constantin said in an email to The Associated Press that the suspect did not travel from Canada and was not on an Air Canada flight. She says the suspect has no connection to Canada.

Constantin's email says, "We understand from officials he was on a flight originating in Anchorage, transiting through Minneapolis and landing in Ft. Lauderdale."

Chip LaMarca, a Broward County commissioner, earlier reported that the shooter was a passenger on a Canadian flight.

The shooting happened at the airport's terminal 2, where Air Canada and Delta operate flights.

Delta did not comment if the suspect took one of their flights, but issued a statement to CBS News that the airline is cooperating with the investigation.

"Specially trained Delta Care Team members have been activated and are traveling to Fort Lauderdale to assist families and friends of customers and employees who may have been impacted by the shooting at the Fort Lauderdale International Airport," Delta wrote in a statement.

[1:58 p.m.]

The suspect identified in the shooting that left at least five dead has the same name and age as a man who lived in Anchorage for at least two years, according to Alaska Dispatch News.

CBS News obtained a photo of suspect Esteban Santiago.

CBS News reports Santiago walked into an FBI office in Anchorage in 2016 and claimed he was being forced to fight for ISIS.

In 2011 or 2012, Santiago was investigated for child porn, according to CBS News. There was not enough evidence to prosecute him.

[1:52 p.m.]

A suspicious package will be detonated near railroad tracks by FLL.

[1:37 p.m.]

Alaska Airlines flight 38 from Sea-Tac was scheduled to arrive at Fort Lauderdale airport at 2:25 p.m. PST. It's been diverted to Orlando.

As KIRO 7 News reported in an earlier update, Sea-Tac Airport spokesman Brian DeRoy said Sea-Tac remains vigilant in monitoring events locally, domestically and internationally. DeRoy said no evidence shows the incident has any connection in the Seattle area.

The Fort Lauderdale airport shooter, Esteban Santiago, was a passenger on a Canadian flight, according to The Associated Press. He checked a gun in a bag and loaded it in bathroom.

CBS News confirmed that he was not on an Air Canada flight, according to a spokesman.

[1 p.m. ]

CBS News received a photo of what is believed to be the firearm used in the FLL terminal two shooting.

Here are the current TSA rules on passengers traveling with firearms, ammunition: 

"Firearms can be transported on a commercial aircraft only if they are unloaded, packed in a locked, hard-sided case and transported in checked baggage. Ammunition and firearm parts, including firearm frames, receivers, clips and magazines are also prohibited in carry-on baggage and must be checked with the airline."

At the airport during the check-in process, a passenger should go to the airline ticket counter to declare firearms, ammunition and any firearm parts. Prior to traveling, passengers are encouraged to check gun laws and regulations at their destination to ensure compliance with local and state laws.

Firearm magazines and ammunition clips - whether loaded or empty - must be securely packed in a hard-sided case containing the unloaded firearm. Small arms ammunition not exceeding .75 caliber for a rifle or pistol and shotgun shells of any gauge, may be transported in the same case as the firearm. Read full information here from TSA.

[12:44 p.m.]

Chip LaMarca, a Broward County commissioner, was briefed on the airport shooting by Broward Sheriff's office. He told The Associated Press by phone that the shooter was a passenger on a Canadian flight and had checked a gun.

LaMarca says the shooter pulled out the gun in the bathroom after claiming his bag.

[12:38 p.m.]

The FBI and Broward County Sheriff's Office held a news conference on Friday afternoon. They confirmed to reporters that 13 people were hit in terminal two, killing five people and injuring eight.

SWAT teams are clearing the airport. The investigation is considered active and fluid, according to law enforcement. People are sheltering in place until the airport is considered safe.

The suspect, Esteban Santiago, from the terminal two shooting is in custody and unharmed. Law enforcement did not fire shots.

Reporters asked law enforcement about witness reports regarding another shooting in terminal one or the parking garage. Law enforcement said the only shooting that took place was in terminal two, and that there is not a second active shooter.

Law enforcement said it’s too early to comment on if the shooting in terminal two is connected to terrorism.

The FBI is not giving details on the shooter or weapons used by the suspect. Law enforcement is not identifying victims as they contact family.

[12:09 p.m.]

A United pilot tells a CBS Miami reporter that he smelled gun powder when he got off plane at terminal one.

The shooting that killed five people happened in terminal two.

According to CBS, reports of gunshots in the parking garage prompted police to clear the area, but the Broward County mayor and sheriff said nothing is confirmed.

A man named Esteban Santiago is in custody for the terminal two shooting, but the Broward County Sheriff's Office confirms an active search is happening at FLL.

[11:54 a.m.]

CBS News confirms airport shooter as Esteban Santiago.

No motive has been released.

Florida leaders called Santiago a lone shooter, but a second active search is underway at FLL.

[11:52 a.m.]

The Broward County Sheriff's Office confirms an active search after what they call unconfirmed reports of shots fired on airport property.

The TSA tweeted at 11:33 a.m. that they are looking for an active shooter.

CBS Miami's news helicopter captures people running across the tarmac and seeking shelter. Video shows people walking next to nearby railroad tracks with their hands up.

[11:30 a.m.]

Five people have died and many others are wounded.

News stations showed video of medics taking care of a bleeding victim outside the airport. Helicopters hovering over the scene showed hundreds of people standing on the tarmac as an ambulance drove by and numerous law enforcement officers, including tactical units, rushed to the scene.

[11:15 a.m.]

Sea-Tac Airport spokesman Brian DeRoy told KIRO 7 News that the airport remains vigilant in monitoring events locally, domestically and internationally. DeRoy said no evidence shows the incident has any connection in the Seattle area.

One flight from Sea-Tac airport is en route to FLL; it was scheduled to land around 2:25 p.m. PST. Two flights were schedule to leave Sea-Tac for FLL on Friday night.

FLL advises passengers contact their air carrier about flight information.

[10:45 a.m.]

Eight people were injured and sent to a hospital, according to the Broward Sheriff's Office.

Broward County Mayor Barbara Sharief confirmed to The Associated Press that a lone shooter was responsible.

FLL sent a tweet about an ongoing incident in its terminal two baggage claim around 10:15 a.m. PST.

[10:15 a.m.]

Former White House Press Secretary Ari Fleischer, who was at the airport during the incident, tweeted that "shots have been fired. Everyone is running."

Minutes later, Fleischer tweeted “All seems calm now but the police aren't letting anyone out of the airport - at least not the area where I am.”

Stay with kiro7.com for updates.

Cox Media Group