ORLANDO, Fla. _ A Transportation Security Administration officer died Saturday after jumping from a Hyatt Regency Hotel balcony into an open area inside the Orlando International Airport.
The man, who was in his 40s, had just clocked out of work, TSA spokeswoman Sari Koshetz said. He was in critical condition when police arrived and died at a hospital.
The man jumped around 9:30 a.m. The sight sent "a wave of screams" through the atrium, Cathy Imburgia, who was in line for TSA PreCheck. "There were children in line," she said. "It was awful."
Some passengers scattered into the area beyond the security checkpoint, Koshetz said.
Imburgia, of Delaware, said she and others were ushered through security and out of the airport.
Meanwhile, flights to and from gates near the scene were stopped. Some passengers already on board were asked to leave their planes.
Southwest Airlines canceled 49 arriving flights and 45 departing flights by Saturday afternoon, according to the Greater Orlando Aviation Authority.
"Three hours of chaos" later, after returning inside the packed lobby and through security, Imburgia said she made it to her gate.
Upstairs, the confusion sparked rumors among hotel guests of a bomb threat or shooting, said James Shaw of Safety Harbor, Fla., who was staying at the Hyatt this weekend while his 6-year-old daughter competed in a dance competition there.
While Shaw was making his way back from his hotel room on the 10th floor to the competition, he said he walked past the officer, who was standing on the balcony ledge.
He said he assumed the man was looking for something.
"At first I thought it was strange, like anyone would," Shaw said.
When Shaw stepped out of the elevator on the fourth floor, "that's when you heard the boom," he said.
"I can't believe I didn't say anything to him," Shaw said. "I was 4 feet from him. ... I thought he was there for a reason."
