Passengers fled Cancun airport in panic on Monday after they heard a loud bang.

Photographs posted on social media show people rushing for the exits, with some dropping their bags and other belongings.

Witnesses said others ducked behind counters and chairs. Some said they thought they’d heard gunshots, others thought it was an explosion.

However, Mexico’s National Guard later said there was no evidence that shots had been fired.

In fact, one official told the news organisation Reuters that ‘the sound could have been caused after a tourist accidentally knocked down three billboards’.

Terminal 3 was partially evacuated and operations temporarily suspended to ensure passenger safety, but they resumed a few minutes later.

Investigations are continuing.