An alleged gunfire occurred close outside the main airport terminal building on Monday morning, resulting in chaotic scenes at Cancun International Airport.
Witnesses captured video of people sprinting beside what seemed to be an American Airlines plane on the airport tarmac. Passengers escaping from the building and heavily armed cops entering the airport were shown in other images.
According to reports, the terminal has been largely evacuated and firefighters have arrived. Some witnesses said they heard gunshots, while others said they heard a huge “explosion.”
However, there are indications that the ‘gunfire’ may have had a more harmless cause, but that passengers were caught up in the hysteria.
🚨#BREAKING: Terminal partially evacuated at #Cancun International Airport in #Mexico after unconfirmed reports of shots fired pic.twitter.com/fGUAahNcnl
— Breaking News 24/7 (@Worldsource24) March 28, 2022
#CancunAirport ,reports firearm shots in terminal 3 of the Cancun International Airport, Code Red is activated. pic.twitter.com/d2QFYcM3Vm
— AUSTROHÚNGARO (@AUSTROHNGARO2) March 28, 2022
In recent months, the generally safe tourist enclave of Cancun has been devastated by a surge of violent crime. Gunfire erupted at a Cancun beach resort in December, sending holidaymakers fleeing for safety. No one was hurt in that incident.
Two Canadians were shot and killed in January at the luxurious Hotel Xcaret Mexico in Playa del Carmen, some 45 miles south of Cancun.
In an attempt to curb the stream of violent crime, armed police have been deployed to major beach destinations recently.