Four construction workers at LAX airport fall ill – one seriously – after a gas leak: Terminal 8 is being evacuated as United Airlines flights are delayed
- A gas leak at LAX has hospitalized four construction workers, one of whom is in critical condition
- A man in his 50s was found without a pulse and not breathing in the utility room where the leak occurred
- United Airlines flights to LAX were delayed but are scheduled to resume at 10 a.m. PT
- A dangerous goods investigation only affected United Airlines facilities, the airport said
A carbon dioxide leak in a utility room in LAX airport’s Terminal 8 caused a construction worker to lose his pulse and stop breathing this morning.
The man, in his 50s, was found unconscious in the utility room where the leak started. Paramedics performed CPR and he was taken to a nearby Los Angeles hospital.
Upon arrival, his condition was listed as critical, the fire department said.
Three other workers, two men and one woman, were also in the room but were less affected.
The airport has announced that the leak has caused delays and that all United Airlines flights serving the airport will be stopped at their airport of origin.
Less than an hour later, it was announced that normal operations would resume and only trace amounts of carbon dioxide were detected.
United flights that were already airborne and en route to LAX continued as planned.
Those who didn’t depart due to the leak would do so after 10 a.m. PT, the airport said. The Los Angeles Fire Department said the leak occurred in a utility room.
According to officials, the utility room is located more than 200 feet from the Terminal 8 baggage area.
Authorities said workers heard a popping sound just before the leak.
A construction worker in his 50s was found passed out and without a pulse in a utility room at the United Airlines facility. Three other workers were less severely affected but were hospitalized
Los Angeles Airport’s Terminal 8 hosts major scheduled flights served by United Express and United Airlines.
The airport tweeted that only the United Airlines facility was affected by an ongoing dangerous goods investigation.
The Los Angeles Fire Department conducted a hazmat investigation at the United Airlines Terminal 8 facility
A hazardous materials team from the Los Angeles Fire Department rolled into the baggage claim area of this terminal at approximately 7:00 am.
Terminal 8 was completely cleared of more than 100 passengers who were sent to Terminal 7 for “screening,” the airport said.
Only trace amounts of carbon dioxide were in the room, according to an 8.45am update from the fire service.