Gunman arrested following standoff with police at Orlando International Airport
A GUNMAN has been arrested following a tense standoff with armed police in a car rental area of Orlando International Airport (OIA).
Police rush to Orlando airport after reports of a gunman
Orlando Police Chief John Mina identified the suspect as 26-year-old Michael Wayne Pettigrew.
He faces one charge of aggravated assault with a firearm on a law enforcement officer and will be held under the Florida Mental Health Act, police confirmed.
Orlando Police tweeted this picture of the scene
police have released this image of the gun the suspect was threatening officers with
The suicidal man has now been taken into custody and airport operations appear to be returning to normal, albeit with some delays.
In one video of the standoff posted on social media, one police officer cn be heard saying: "You're not going to prison Michael, you're going to the hospital".
Mr Pettigrew responds: "Please don't lie to me, sir."
Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer tweeted his thanks to the police who brought the situation under control
Police rush to the scene
Hundreds of police officers attended the scene after receiving a call at 7.24pm local time (12.24am BST) on Tuesday evening, and it took more than two and a half hours for authotiries to detain the suspect.
OIA spokeswoman Carolyn Fennell said the man was contained in the rental car area on level one of the airport.
Terminal A was shut down and traffic coming to and from the airport remains at a standstill after Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) closed all roads leading to OIA.
Orlando Airport have confirmed the incident
The airport is claiming the incident caused "minimal impact to operations", but witnesses reported seeing dozens of police vehicles rushing to the scene.
Florida Highway Patrol troopers reportedly told those in the area to “stay in your vehicle and away from law enforcement personnel.”
Armed police make their way to the airport on foot
According to local media, the suspect "has threatened to do harm to himself and others".
Glorializ Colón Plaza, 20, was just finishing a shift at Virgin Atlantic airlines when she saw everyone hiding. She got off the elevator and saw the man on the floor near the rental car area. He was screaming and police officers had surrounded him.
She told the Orlando Sentinel: ”I couldn't make out the words but he was screaming really loud.
”Everyone there told me right before this happened a man said to everyone 'you're going to need mental therapy after this' then he pulled out a gun and everyone ran."
A number of police vehicles can be seen on the approach to the airport
Lawrence Wilbanks, 54, landed from Chicago at around 7.20pm and was unable to reach his family, who were supposed to be picking him up, while the police operation was ongoing.
He told local media: "I'd rather be a little inconvenienced than have something really bad happen.
“I commend them, they handled it pretty good.
"It could have been worst, it could have been widespread panic."