FAA halts flights into Dallas Love Field Airport after shooting

A 37-year-old woman was shot and wounded by police after she opened fire by a ticket counter at Dallas Love Field airport, leading authorities to halt flights for several hours.

The unidentified woman was the only person injured in the shooting that began after she entered the airport at about 10:58 a.m. local time, Dallas Police Chief Eddie Garcia said in a media briefing. The US Federal Aviation Administration halted inbound flights at Love Field until 2:30 p.m. and the airport suspended operations until it could clear the terminal and begin rescreening passengers.

The suspect, who was hospitalized, was dropped off at the airport, went into a restroom and emerged wearing different clothing, possibly including a hoodie, and carrying a gun, Garcia said. The incident took place near a ticket counter and was outside security. Pictures taken in the gate area and broadcast on television showed people cowering behind rows of seats. 

“She produces a handgun and begins firing,” Garcia said. “There were several rounds fired. Simultaneously as she’s doing that, our officer engages the suspect, strikes her in the lower extremities.”  

The woman appeared to aim at the ceiling when she was firing, he said. 

Southwest Airlines Co., which dominates operations at the airport, said flight delays and cancellations likely will last into the evening.