Possible 'explosion' at LAX fires up reporting staff
This is a true story:
We got a phone call a little earlier this morning from someone at Associated Press asking us if we could send a photographer to LAX, where there was a report of an "explosion on a bus."
Explosion at LAX? On a bus? Could this be terrorism?
We all jumped into action. Photographer Robert Casillas grabbed his camera and took off for the airport. I immediately got on the telephone and called LAPD and tried to get through to the Fire Department. (no one answered.) There was little information to be had.
City News Service, an organization that supplies info to the media, put out an advisory about an "explosion" at the airport. Channel 7 on the TV above me started flying over the airport while talking about an explosion.
Art Marroquin, our ace LAX reporter, finally got in touch with his sources at the airport. It turned out that some clumsy traveler had knocked over a fire extinguisher while getting on a bus and caused it to discharge all over the roadway.
That caused a massive traffic jam because Haz Mat crews had to clean it up.
When we learned what it was we all shook our heads. There was no explosion. Maybe a bang.
Makes you wonder if the terrorists have already won.
Here's the story posted on dailybreeze.com
We got a phone call a little earlier this morning from someone at Associated Press asking us if we could send a photographer to LAX, where there was a report of an "explosion on a bus."
Explosion at LAX? On a bus? Could this be terrorism?
We all jumped into action. Photographer Robert Casillas grabbed his camera and took off for the airport. I immediately got on the telephone and called LAPD and tried to get through to the Fire Department. (no one answered.) There was little information to be had.
City News Service, an organization that supplies info to the media, put out an advisory about an "explosion" at the airport. Channel 7 on the TV above me started flying over the airport while talking about an explosion.
Art Marroquin, our ace LAX reporter, finally got in touch with his sources at the airport. It turned out that some clumsy traveler had knocked over a fire extinguisher while getting on a bus and caused it to discharge all over the roadway.
That caused a massive traffic jam because Haz Mat crews had to clean it up.
When we learned what it was we all shook our heads. There was no explosion. Maybe a bang.
Makes you wonder if the terrorists have already won.
Here's the story posted on dailybreeze.com
About the Blogger
Larry Altman has covered crime in the South Bay since 1990. He's seen it all - the missing model who turned up dead in the desert, the wives found dead in trunks, the high-school coaches who get a little too close to their players. He drives his young colleagues nuts with his "I remember when" stories. He welcomes your tips and observations about the present, and you can mix in a little Lakers basketball talk if you like.
E-mail Larry at larry.altman@dailybreeze.com.
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