Chaos erupted at a New York City airport after a raccoon fell through the ceiling and scurried past fearful Spirit Airline passengers waiting for their flight.
Travelers at New York’s LaGuardia Airport were seen freaking out after the raccoon’s sudden arrival created chaos at the departure gate early Monday morning.
The bushy-tailed creature made its spectacular fall at the Marine air terminal, also known as Terminal A, shortly after 8 a.m., a small six-gate terminal used only by discount airlines, including Spirit and Frontier.
The abrupt appearance of the wild animal was captured by a witness who turned to X to share the images.
Chaos erupted at New York’s LaGuardia Airport after a raccoon fell from the terminal roof shortly after 8 a.m. Monday.
A witness to the incident posted the footage on social media, which showed staff and travelers running away from the wild animal and screaming as dogs barked and a fire alarm blared in the background.
“Dead, I just saw a raccoon fall from the ceiling at LaGuardia Airport,” the post read, accompanied by three skull emojis to indicate the absurdity of what it had just witnessed.
“I can’t make this up,” he added in a second post attached to the video of the ordeal.
The video shows the animal apparently clinging to an electrical cable hanging below a ceiling slab before falling to the ground.
The moment the raccoon hits the ground and scurries behind the check-in counter, people can be heard screaming as anxious-looking staff try to chase it.
As the raccoon roams the small terminal, travelers and employees can be seen fleeing in all directions.
Amid the chaos you can hear people screaming, dogs barking and a fire alarm blaring.
At one point, a traveler in a green jacket holding a plastic trash can appears to approach the wild animal in an attempt to capture it at the terminal’s TSA security checkpoint.
But the Port Authority Police Department was eventually able to locate the raccoon and safely release it into the open without any injuries or further sightings. TMZ reported.
The bushy-tailed creature made its spectacular fall at the Marine air terminal, also known as Terminal A, which was not included in the airport’s $8 billion renovation and is only used for discount airlines such as Spirit and Frontier. .
The airport also partnered with a “professional wildlife control company” to monitor the area and take necessary precautions to prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future.
Spectators on social media took advantage of the comments to mock the situation and stressed that they are not surprised by what happened at LaGuardia.
“This is the closest thing to LaGuardia and the closest thing to Spirit Airlines that has ever happened. Perfect,’ wrote one viewer.
“Spirit AND LaGuardia make a lot more sense in this scenario,” wrote another accompanied by a laughing face emoji.
An investigation is now underway to determine how the raccoon entered the airport and ended up in the terminal. the guardian reported.
LaGuardia Airport has long been known for its deteriorating facilities and leaking roofs; even Joe Biden compared it to a “third world country” when he was vice president in 2014. Gothamist reported.
But just last month, Forbes Travel Guide rated it the “best airport” in the country following a major $8 billion renovation that was completed in 2023.
“LaGuardia is no longer a national laughing stock, but something our entire region and our country can be proud of,” said Rick Cotton, executive director of the Port Authority. Gothamist in a statement last October.
Although billions of dollars were invested in its massive renovation, the Marine Air Terminal, or Terminal A, was not included in the project.
The terminal is considered a city landmark listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is known for its small size that allows passengers to embark on a quick journey through its security checkpoint.
Even though the images show absolute chaos and fear, witnesses to the situation said that airport staff handled the situation like professionals and quickly got everything under control, TMZ reported.
Spirit Airlines employees also told the outlet that they acted very quickly because their goal is to make sure LaGuardia guests have a positive overall experience.
It’s still unclear where the raccoon planned to travel.