Chris Woodyard

USA TODAY

LOS ANGELES -- Terminals were evacuated and flights halted Sunday night at Los Angeles International Airport after reports of a shooting, which proved to be false.

Traffic was tied up and arriving passengers scrambled to find ways out of the airport after the report unfolded after 9 p.m. PT. Later, the chief spokesman for the Los Angeles Police Department tweeted that the reports of a shooter turned out to a false report. Planes started taking off again about 10 p.m., but no flights were arriving.

"Report of shooting at LAX proven to be LOUD NOISES only," wrote police Capt. Andy Neiman in his tweet. Earlier, airport police tweeted that every terminal was being searched. Passengers were expected to have to go through screening again.

The scare sent people running from terminals. TV helicopter coverage showed passengers being escorted across the tarmac and police searching a man dressed entirely in black, including cape, who may have been dressed as Zorro.

Sam Macon, who goes by the handle @sayczars on Twitter, tweeted video of a man in a Zorro costume who appears to be detained by police.