A Transportation Security Administration worker jumped to his death at Orlando airport on Saturday, weeks after the longest shutdown history forced agents to work without pay.

The off-duty officer in his 40s died after falling from the Hyatt Regency Hotel into a busy atrium at the airport at 9.30am.

TSA agents are among the 420,000 federal workers considered essential employees required to work without their paychecks during a government shutdown. The closure began on began on December 22 and lasted for 35 days.

The Orlando Police Department confirmed the tragedy, writing: 'At 9.30am, an individual jumped from the Hyatt Regency Hotel into the atrium area of the airport.

'A male in his 40s was found in critical condition and transported to the hospital where he was pronounced deceased. Preliminary information suggests an apparent suicide.

'We can confirm the deceased individual involved in this incident is an employee of the @TSA. Our hearts are with the @TSA family during this very difficult time.'

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Emergency workers treat the man in the middle of the airport after he jumped from the Hyatt Regency Hotel into the atrium area. He was to the hospital where he was pronounced dead

Travelers now face lengthy delays at the airport after some passengers scattered into the sterile area without going through security

Gates 70 through 129 were rescreened and more than 20 flights were canceled

A spokesman for the TSA added: 'The TSA confirms that an off-duty officer fell from a hotel balcony inside Orlando International Airport this morning and is deceased. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the officer's family, friends and everyone in our TSA family.'

In footage posted online passengers can be seen standing just yards from yellow police tape in a busy atrium of the airport. Images show emergency workers treating the man in the middle of the airport.

Travelers were forced to go back through security to be rescreened after the incident reportedly caused some to move through security without being checked.

The TSA confirmed: 'At the time of the incident, several passengers scattered into the sterile area unscreened. TSA will be rescreening passengers and will continue to work with the Orlando Police Department and Greater Orlando Aviation Authority to return operations to normal.'

Passengers fled in panic after the incident and authorities were forced to confirm reports of a suspicious vehicle were false.

One witness wrote on Facebook: 'I was in my room and I heard screaming from the airport terminal (which is outside my balcony) and a LOUD bang like a shotgun. Panic was in full effect! Screaming, running, I didn’t know where to put myself first.

'After about 15 minutes we were told it wasn’t a shooter it was a TSA agent who jumped from the 10th floor of the hotel right into the middle of the airport terminal!

'The 15 minutes of thinking there was an active shooter and I couldn’t get to my daughter won’t leave my mind right now. Currently the airport is shutdown. What a sad sad day.'

Another added on Twitter: 'A TSA agent jumped from a top balcony, unidentified bangs go off, people running everywhere, and right past the security, which then led to a security breach.'

Trista Eaden told Spectrum News 13: 'I saw the TSA agents standing up, and all of a sudden they just told us to run, to just go through the screening.'

Police had earlier tweeted: 'This is an isolated incident within the atrium area of the airport. Any reports of suspicious vehicles related to this incident are FALSE. The person that jumped has been pronounced deceased.'

Orlando police confirmed the death in a tweet on Saturday afternoon

The Orlando Police Department confirmed the tragedy after the man died Saturday morning

Authorities were forced to confirm reports of a suspicious vehicle were false

Police say 'preliminary information suggests an apparent suicide'

Travelers now face lengthy delays at the airport after gates 70 through 129 were rescreened and flights were canceled. Images circulating online show long lines forming in the airport.

By midday 74 flights had been delayed leaving the airport and 23 had been canceled, according to FlightAware.com.

General manager at the airport's Hyatt Regency Bruce McDonald told Click Orlando: 'The safety and security of our guests and colleagues is a top priority,' McDonald said. 'We are saddened by the event that occurred at our hotel and our thoughts go out to all who have been affected by this terrible situation.'

For confidential support call the National Suicide Prevention Line on 1-800-273-8255