Four construction workers fall ill after carbon dioxide leak at LAX, one loses pulse

A carbon dioxide leak in a utility room in Terminal 8 in LAX airport caused a construction worker to lose his pulse and stop breathing this morning.

The man in his 50s was found passed out in the utility room in which the leak sprung. Paramedics performed CPR and he was taken to a nearby Los Angeles hospital.

On arrival his condition was updated to be critical, the fire department said. 

Three other workers, two men and a women, were in the room as well but less severely affected. 

One construction worker in his 50s was discovered in a utility room in the United Airlines facility passed out and without a pulse. Three other workers were less severely affected but hospitalized

The airport said that the leak caused delays and that all United Airlines flights into the airport would be held at their origin airport.

Less than an hour later it was announced that ordinary service would resume and only trace levels of carbon dioxide were being detected.

Soon after 10am the airport put out a notice that Terminal 8 was to reopen as the Los Angeles Fire Department had cleared the building as safe. 

The utility room is located more than 200 feet from the Terminal 8 baggage area, according to officials. 

Authorities said that there was a popping sound that could be heard by the workers shortly before the leak.

Los Angeles Airport Terminal 8 hosts mainline flights, served by United Express and United Airlines. 

The airport said in a Tweet that only the United Airlines facility was impacted by an ongoing hazmat investigation.

A hazmat investigation was carried out by the Los Angeles Fire Department in the Terminal 8 United Airlines facility 

A Hazardous Materials team from the Los Angeles Fire Department responded to the baggage claim area of that terminal around 7am.

Terminal 8 was cleared entirely of more than 100 passengers who were sent to Terminal 7 for ‘screening,’ the airport said.

Only trace amounts of carbon dioxide remained in the room, according to an update from the fire department at 8.45am.