Truth matters. Community matters. Your support makes both possible. LAist is one of the few places where news remains independent and free from political and corporate influence. Stand up for truth and for LAist. Make your year-end tax-deductible gift now.
Carbon Dioxide Leak At LAX Sickened 4 Workers And Temporarily Shut Down Terminal 8
A United Airlines Boeing 787 Dreamliner sits on the tarmac earlier this year. Activity at Terminal 8 — United's main terminal — was disrupted Halloween morning due to a carbon dioxide leak.
(
Daniel Slim
/
AFP via Getty Images
)
Topline:
Terminal 8 at LAX re-opened after being closed down due to a carbon dioxide leak that sickened at least four workers this morning, leaving one of them in critical condition.
What happened: Brian Humphreys, a spokesperson for the L.A. Fire Department says the leak was caused by a fire suppression system inside a utility room. United Airlines, which operates out of Terminal 8, consolidated flights in and out of Terminal 7, according to LAX officials, until the area was cleared for use. The shutdown lasted from about 8 a.m. to 10 a.m.
Why that's worrisome: Humphreys explained:
The systems that utilize carbon dioxide typically dump the colorless odorless gas into the room instantly. It could completely fill an area and it displaces all oxygen so a person could become unconscious and eventually stop breathing in a matter of moments. So it's something that you can't see ... you can't taste. It's hard to prepare for but when a system's activated it's important for people to remove themselves."
What's next: Humphreys says the Occupational Safety and Health Administration is investigating what caused the system to be activated.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our connected community. We are free to tell the full truth, to hold power to account without fear or favor, and to follow facts wherever they lead. Our only loyalty is to our audiences and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen our community.
Right now, LAist has lost $1.7M in annual funding due to Congress clawing back money already approved. The support we receive before year-end will determine how fully our newsroom can continue informing, serving, and strengthening Southern California.
If this story helped you today, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
Your tax-deductible donation keeps LAist independent and accessible to everyone.
Right now, LAist has lost $1.7M in annual funding due to Congress clawing back money already approved. The support we receive before year-end will determine how fully our newsroom can continue informing, serving, and strengthening Southern California.
If this story helped you today, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
Your tax-deductible donation keeps LAist independent and accessible to everyone.
Senior Vice President News, Editor in Chief
