FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — Official: Fort Lauderdale airport shooter a passenger on Canadian flight, checked gun in bag, loaded it in bathroom
Authorities say the gunman, who appeared to be acting alone, is in custody.
Here's the latest on what we know:
• Five people are dead, and 13 injured people were transported to hospitals, Broward County Mayor Barbara Sharief told .
• Multiple reports on social media -- including tweets from former White House spokesman Ari Fleischer -- described the shooting.
Air Canada, Westjet Passengers, Employees In Fort Lauderdale 'Safe'
Air Canada and WestJet say all their passengers and employees at the Fort Lauderdale, Fl., airport are accounted for and safe following a mass shooting that has left several people dead.
U.S. authorities say a lone shooter opened fire at city's international airport this afternoon, killing five people and injuring eight before he was taken into custody.
They say the shooting took place inside Terminal 2, which serves Delta Air Lines and Air Canada.
Air Canada spokesman Peter Fitzpatrick says in an email that passengers on the airline's departing flights were safely evacuated on the tarmac.
Those on flights arriving from Montreal and Toronto were being held off gate while the terminal remained closed.
The Fort Lauderdale airport has suspended operations as law enforcement authorities rush to the scene.
Fitzpatrick says Air Canada has implemented a rebooking policy for passengers travelling to and from Fort Lauderdale on Friday and Saturday.
WestJet spokeswoman Lauren Stewart says the airline is monitoring the situation closely and believes its passengers and staff are safe.
Stewart said one flight was holding on the ground awaiting departure to Ottawa at the airport's Terminal 1.
"We are following the lead of law enforcement officials at the scene," Stewart said in an email.
A Twitter user from Manitoba named Liam said he was at the airport when the shooting happened.
"Im at the ft lauderdale airport and just went through the most terrifying experience in my life," read the tweet.
How It Happened:
Authorities say five people were killed and eight were wounded after a lone suspect opened fire at the Fort Lauderdale, Florida, international airport.
The Broward County Sheriff's Office tweeted the information following Friday afternoon's shooting.
Broward County Mayor Barbara Sharief told CNN that authorities "have an active crime scene investigation involving terminal 2."
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.
I'm at the Ft. Lauderdale Airport. Shots have been fired. Everyone is running.
— Ari Fleischer (@AriFleischer) January 6, 2017
Former White House spokesman Ari Fleischer tweeted that he was at the airport when shots were fired and "everyone is running."
Confirmed: Shooting at Fort Lauderdale -Hollywood International Airport with multiple people dead. One subject in custody.
— Broward Sheriff (@browardsheriff) January 6, 2017
Broward County Mayor Barbara Sharief told CNN authorities that a lone shooter was responsible for the attack and had been taken into custody.
Jillian Saunders, from Palm Beach, Florida, told The Associated Press in direct Twitter messages that she was watching the activity from the tarmac in a plane scheduled to fly to Los Angeles.
Monitoring the terrible situation in Florida. Just spoke to Governor Scott. Thoughts and prayers for all. Stay safe!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 6, 2017
"Everything you see on the news is happening outside my window," she said. "I am luckily on the plane and they said we are right now the safest people at the airport."
Airport officials said on the airport's website that it was suspending flights. Earlier in the day, the Federal Aviation Administration regulated the pace of flights because of heavy volume after morning fog. According to tracking service FlightAware, about 60 flights to and from Fort Lauderdale were delayed and fewer than a dozen canceled before the shooting.
