Houston police and airport security personnel shut down the south section of Terminal C at Bush Intercontinental Airport for about an hour Thursday, but there was never a security breach.

Houston Airport System Spokesman Richard Fernandezsaid the incident began when an airline passenger "ran up the down escalator." A security guard alerted Transportation Security Administration officials about the incident, Fernandez said. During the search officials reviewed a surveillance videotape and realized that there had been no security breach, Fernandez said.

"The guy actually was in the secure area, started down the escalator and turned back around without ever having reached the baggage claim area," Fernandez said.

Julie King , a spokeswoman for Continental Airlines, said the search started at 6:40 p.m. and concluded at 7:30 p.m.

"It had a minimal impact on our service," King said. "It affected a few dozen flights."