Rambunctious raccoon falls from LaGuardia ceiling, forcing Spirit Airlines staff, flyers to flee
They flew into a frenzy.
Frightened staff and flyers at LaGuardia Airport fled the Spirit Airlines' gate after a rambunctious raccoon was spotted hanging from the ceiling before dropping to the floor of the Big Apple terminal, shocking footage shows .
Shrieks of horror filled the budget carrier's section of the facility when the wild critter burst through an open part of the ceiling and scurried around the airport Monday morning.
The raccoon was seen hanging from wires as airline staff and patrons slowly moved to safety, videos shared online showed. But once the masked creature dropped to the ground, workers behind the desk quickly scattered, according to the footage.
As the video cuts in and out to show different parts of the commotion, the raccoon scampers around the Transportation Security Administration line.
One traveler was seen carrying a clear empty garbage can in hopes of catching the wayward trash panda.
"This is both the most LaGuardia thing and the most Spirit Airlines thing to happen," one social media user commented. "Perfect."
LaGuardia was once known as a "third-world" airport before a massive renovation made it one of the top facilities in the Northeast.
Another social media user also pointed out that the fur-plexing incident happened near the low-cost airline.
"Idk why but it's makes it funnier that it's happening at the spirit desks," they joked.
Another user gave a nod to the patron trying to capture the raccoon.
"I appreciate a man that enjoys being a man and immediately take charge," the user wrote. "The guy with the tube was ready to catch it."
A Port Authority spokesperson said in an email the raccoon was spotted shortly after 8 a.m.
The animal was captured and then released back outside the terminal — a drastically different fate than Fred the raccoon and P'nut the squirrel faced when they were seized and euthanized by the state Department of Environmental Conservation last week, leading to an outcry in the Empire State.
Workers are scouring the facility to prevent future unwanted four-legged guests.
"To ensure safety, airport staff is working closely with a professional wildlife control company to monitor the area, identify potential entry points, and implement necessary precautions," the Port Authority spokesperson said.
"Ongoing inspections and follow-up efforts are in place to prevent future incidents."
