Security breach slows air traffic around U.S.

ATLANTA -- A man ran past guards and through a passenger exit at the nation's busiest airport Friday, forcing officials to halt flights and causing a ripple effect that slowed air traffic throughout the United States.

When arrested nearly seven hours later, the man told police he had cleared security once but returned to the terminal to retrieve his camera bag. He said he ran down the up-escalator in the exit area to avoid the long lines at a security checkpoint for fear he would miss his flight.

The security breach all but shut down Hartsfield Atlanta International Airport, as flights into and out of the city were delayed on the busy travel weekend before Thanksgiving.

Private security workers, National Guard troops and police had chased the man to no avail.

Thousands of passengers -- including the man in police custody -- and airport employees were forced into parking lots outside the terminal while the entire airport was searched.

The Federal Aviation Administration halted departures at Hartsfield and planes in other cities destined for Atlanta were told to remain on the ground, FAA spokesman Christopher White said. International flights were allowed to land and passengers were held in the concourse.

Benjamin DeCosta, the airport's general manager, said from 5,000 to 10,000 passengers and employees were evacuated. Many were standing outside in the two twin parking lots around the terminal. Others waited inside the main baggage area.

The passenger exit was staffed by two private guards with International Total Services, which handles security at Hartsfield. Police and National Guard troops were also nearby. Officials at the Cleveland-based company did not immediately return a call seeking comment.

After the entire airport was searched, all passengers had to go through even tighter security.

The man in police custody, Michael S. Lasseter, 32, of Gainesville, said he re-entered the airport with all the other passengers and then returned to the Northwest Airlines gate area to wait for his flight. Northwest agents identified him from a security videotape, and he was arrested.

Lasseter, wearing a Georgia T-shirt and jogging pants, was being held at the airport police precinct, pending federal charges. He said he was traveling with his son and uncle to attend Saturday's Georgia-Mississippi football game in Oxford, Miss.

Flights began taking off again after 4 p.m.