Law enforcement investigation prompts evacuation of BWI Marshall Airport Terminal A

Hundreds of travelers were evacuated from Terminal A at Maryland's BWI Thurgood Marshall Airport on Wednesday evening because of a law enforcement investigation.

WJZ was at the airport, where people were packed into the food court area between the terminals.

Neither police nor airport officials said why the evacuation abruptly happened around 6 p.m. Around 6:30 p.m., officials determined there was no threat, and the travelers were allowed to get to their flights.

WJZ reached out to the Maryland Transportation Police and the TSA for more information, but has not yet heard back.

Confusion and chaos

A passenger told WJZ he was about to board his flight when all passengers in Terminal A were told to go to the concourse immediately.

Another passenger said a police officer in the terminal said they caught the security risk.

"I don't understand what it means. People are upset. People are furious," said traveler Demarco Monroe.

Monroe said the evacuation caused confusion and chaos in the concourse. He said his flight was boarding when they stopped to get everyone out.

"All of a sudden, we get an announcement from the gate agent that everyone needed to evacuate to the food court immediately," Monroe said. "She legitimately started going, 10, 9, 8, 7, at that point, everyone kind of freaked out."

Passengers told WJZ they weren't given any information about why they were forced to stay in the concourse, which they say caused some travel disruptions. 

Travelers also said they nearly had to go through the security checkpoint a second time.

"The gate agents at one time told us we all had to leave to go through security again," Monroe said. "So everyone got really upset and anxious about that. But then another gate agent came out and said that we didn't have to."