PICTURED: TSA employee who leaped to his death at Orlando International Airport, weeks after the longest shutdown in history forced agents to work without pay
- Robert Henry, an off-duty officer, died after falling from the Hyatt Regency Hotel
- Images show emergency workers treating Henry in the middle of the airport
- Several passengers scattered into the sterile area unscreened, the TSA said
- One said TSA workers told them to run amid the panic after hearing a 'loud bang'
- Travelers now face lengthy lines after gates 70 through 129 were rescreened and more than 20 flights were canceled, with dozens more delayed
- TSA agents are among the 420,000 federal workers considered essential employees required to work without their paychecks during a shutdown
- The government shutdown began on December 22 and lasted for 35 days
- Henry's brother, Evan Henry, remembered him as a 'beloved son, brother and dedicated officer'
Robert Henry, 36, pictured, an off-duty officer, died Saturday after he jumped from the Hyatt Regency Hotel into a busy atrium at the Orlando International Airport
A Transportation Security Administration worker who leaped to his death at the Orlando International Airport Saturday, weeks after the longest shutdown history forced agents to work without pay, has been identified.
Robert Henry, 36, an off-duty officer, died after he fell from the Hyatt Regency Hotel into a busy atrium at the airport Saturday at approximately 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 December 22 and lasted for 35 days.
Henry's brother, Evan Henry, remembered his late older brother a 'beloved son, brother and dedicated Transportation Security Officer.'
He said in a GoFundMe page honoring his brother for charity: 'The tragedy at Orlando International Airport has affected many people and we are in mourning.
'Rob, you served your country with dignity and honor, and we take solace knowing that you are finally at peace.'
Donations raised will go toward 'Give Kids The World' charity, which funds week-long vacations for children suffering critical illnesses and their families.
The Orlando Police Department confirmed the tragedy in a statement over the weekend writing: 'At 9.30am, an individual jumped from the Hyatt Regency Hotel into the atrium area of the airport.
'A male 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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Henry's brother, Evan Henry, remembered the TSA worker (pictured) as a 'beloved son, brother and dedicated officer'
Emergency workers treat Henry in the middle of the airport after he jumped from the Hyatt Regency Hotel into the atrium area. He was then transported 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.
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'
'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 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.'
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Travelers faced lengthy delays at the airport after gates 70 through 129 were rescreened and flights were canceled. Images circulating online showed 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
