Buffalo bound flight departed during shooting

Emotions were riding hide in the baggage claim area at the Buffalo Niagara International Airport.

Southwest Flight 190 landed on-time in Buffalo around 3:40, Friday afternoon. Most on the flight had no idea what they were leaving behind in Ft. Lauderdale.

Cousins from #Roc thankful for just making it out of Ft. Lauderdale before the shooting. @WKBW pic.twitter.com/wUmcrHTPzg

— Jeff Rusack (@JeffRusack) January 6, 2017

“We were taking off on the flight and all we saw were fire trucks, everywhere,” said David McCarthy. McCarthy, his father and his cousin were heading back to Rochester. They were told there was a fire at the airport. One passenger said she saw people walking onto the tarmac. 

During the near 3 hour flight, most of the passengers knew nothing about what they left behind. When Flight 190 landed and everyone turned on their smart phones. Word of the shooting that killed five quickly spread. 

One passenger said they were one of the last planes to leave Ft. Lauderdale before the airport closed. 

“Everyone was asking if I was alive, if I was OK,” said McCarthy. His phone was flooded with phone calls and text messages. 

For some western New Yorkers a mass shooting was too close for comfort. More than anything, everyone on Flight 190 is just happy to be home.