PITTSBURGH — Police are searching for an SUV that they say was carjacked early Friday at Pittsburgh International Airport.
According to Allegheny County police, four people were inside the SUV as it arrived at the airport's public arrivals curb to pick up two other people at about 1:15 a.m.
When the driver and the front-seat passenger got out of the SUV and opened the back hatch, two people rolled out, police said. One of them had a gun and forced the driver and passenger to back away, while the other carjacker jumped into the driver’s seat. They pointed a gun at the two people in the back seat, forced them out and drove away in the SUV, police said.
"This is an extremely unusual incident that happened this morning," Allegheny County police Lt. Thomas Ianachione said.
The vehicle is a red Hyundai Santa Fe with Pennsylvania registration JLY-3519.
One of the carjackers is described as a white man, approximately 5 feet, 5 inches tall, with a thin build, wearing a gray hooded sweatshirt and black pants and carrying a silver handgun.
The second carjacker was described as a black man, approximately 5 feet, 10 inches tall, with a thin build, wearing a black T-shirt, black shorts with a white stripe, black shoes and carrying a black handgun.
"The public is at no danger at the airport. The airport is an extremely safe environment," Ianachione said.
The victims, who are Nepalese men, told police that they were drinking at Doug's Den in Carrick until about 12:45 a.m., when they left the bar and drove to the airport to pick up two uncles who were arriving on a late flight from Colorado.
The owner of Doug's Den told Channel 11 that he saw the victims playing pool at the bar for several hours, He said the men are locals who come to the bar often. He said he did not see anyone suspicious, leaving many people wondering when the carjackers got into the victims' car.
Police reiterated that the public is in no danger at the airport, calling Pittsburgh International a very safe, patrolled and protected environment.
County police said they are reviewing surveillance video from the airport.
Stay with Channel 11 News and WPXI.com for continuing coverage.