A man who was taken into custody after pointing a fake gun at a police officer in the Orlando International Airport was having a mental breakdown, according to police.

Michael W Pettigrew, 26, has been named as the suicidal man by Orlando Police Chief John Mina Tuesday night.

Pettigrew pointed a fake gun at a police officer and one of the suspect's friends called authorities saying Pettigrew wanted to die, according to the Orlando Sentinel.

'He wanted to do the whole suicide by cop thing,' Mina said. 'We knew he was in some kind of mental crisis.'

Pettigrew faces one count of aggravated assault with a firearm on a law enforcement officer, according to police.

Before being taken into custody, Pettigrew was in a standoff with police on the first floor of the airport in one of the rental car areas.

Authorities quickly contained the situation and a crisis negotiator spoke with the man, trying to get him to give up his weapon.

After the incident, Orlando Police tweeted: 'Gunman in custody. Everyone is safe. We will brief ASAP at media briefing location.'

Michael W Pettigrew, 26, pointed this fake gun at a police officer in the Orlando International Airport Tuesday evening

A man with a weapon at the Orlando International Airport, pictured, has been taken into custody, according to police

Orlando Police tweeted: 'Gunman in custody. Everyone is safe. We will brief ASAP at media briefing location'

Authorities were able to quickly contain the situation, but had to bring in a crisis negotiator to have the man hand over his gun

Gunman in custody. Everyone is safe. We will brief ASAP at media briefing location. — Orlando Police (@OrlandoPolice) May 31, 2017

One woman tweeted a video from inside the airport where the standoff is happening.

In the video, it sounds like the suspect is in hysterics, breathing heavily as he talks with police.

An officer responds, saying: 'You're not going to go to prison, Michael. You're going to go to the hospital.'

The airport tweeted: 'With ongoing events, FAA has placed a Traffic Management Program in effect for arriving flights. Arrivals may be delayed at departure point.'

Police were called to the scene around 7.24pm. The first floor has been cleared and Terminal A has been locked down.

Passengers are not being allowed into the parking garage, according to Fox 35.

The man has not harmed himself or anyone else and no shots have been fired.

The airport originally tweeted that the incident would have minimal impact to operations, but Florida Highway Patrol tweeted that all roads leading to the airport are shut down.

For readers seeking support, please contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline on 1-800-273-8255 or by clicking here.

Gunman in custody. Everyone is safe. We will brief ASAP at media briefing location. — Orlando Police (@OrlandoPolice) May 31, 2017

With ongoing events, FAA has placed a Traffic Management Program in effect for arriving flights. Arrivals may be delayed at departure point. — Orlando International Airport (@MCO) May 31, 2017

One woman tweeted a video from inside the airport and the suspect can be heard talking with officers

One officer tells the suspect: 'You're not going to go to prison, Michael. You're going to go to the hospital'

Police were called to the scene around 7.24pm on a weapons call

The Orlando International Airport originally tweeted the incident would have minimal impact to operations, but have now said: 'With ongoing events, FAA has placed a Traffic Management Program in effect for arriving flights. Arrivals may be delayed at departure point'