No one was injured in the incident but about 200 passengers were evacuated from the airport, which was closed for about an hour, Department of Transportation spokesman Scott Ishikawa said.

Kaua'i police are seeking to charge Lloyd P. Albinio with first-degree terroristic threatening and reckless endangerment. Prosecuting Attorney Michael Soong said today that his office plans to file a judicial determination of probable cause affidavit tomorrow to keep Albinio in custody if he is not charged within 48 hours of his arrest.

According to Hawai'i Criminal Justice Data Center records, Albinio was convicted in May 2001 for driving under the influence of alcohol, a petty misdemeanor. He was fined $500 and had his driver's license suspended for 90 days.

Bobby Peru, acting federal security director of Lihue Airport, said Albinio did not pass through a Transportation Safety Administration checkpoint to enter the airport. Albinio went from the parking lot to one of the enclosed hallways at the end of the baggage claim area, which is open to the public.

Peru said Albinio confronted a guard and attempted to enter an area used by exiting passengers. Albinio took out a handgun, Peru said. When asked by the guard if it was loaded, Albinio cocked the gun and fired a shot into the ceiling, Peru said.

Peru said said the guard asked Albinio not to harm anyone.

The guard accompanied Albinio as he went through to a Hawaiian Airlines holding area at Gates 5 and 6, Peru said. "He said he needed to talk to somebody," Peru said.

An off-duty Hawaiian Airlines pilot offered to talk to Albinio, who let people in the gate area leave.

The situation was reported to police at 6:18 p.m. Albinio had the gun pointed to his head before police talked him into surrendering.

Hawaiian Airlines spokes man Keoni Wagner said a Honolulu-bound flight was delayed for about 40 minutes, as well as a flight from Honolulu to Lihu'e.

"I heard a pop and I thought it was a balloon," said Roger Lopez of Kaua'i, who was waiting for a flight to Honolulu when the incident occurred. Lopez was interviewed in Honolulu, where he arrived aboard a flight delayed by the gunman's actions.

Lopez said the man pointed the gun at several people as he made his way through to the gate area, causing waiting passengers to drop to the floor for safety.