Raccoon Causes Chaos at LaGuardia Airport, Falls From Ceiling and Stuns Travelers

In a bizarre start to the week, travelers at LaGuardia Airport in New York were met with an unusual sight on Monday morning when a raccoon fell from the ceiling at a Spirit Airlines gate. Passengers at the airport watched in surprise as the raccoon clung to a hanging cable before eventually losing its grip and dropping to the floor. The startled animal then scurried around the gate area, leading to shocked reactions and squeals from travelers.

Video footage of the incident, shared widely on social media, shows the raccoon running across the floor as travelers watch, bewildered. A witness who recorded the scene told that the raccoon moved around for about five minutes before airport crews escorted it safely outside.

Spirit Airlines responded to the unusual occurrence in a statement, saying, “To ensure a positive experience for our LGA Guests, we immediately notified the facilities team and are addressing the matter with a professional wildlife control company.” The incident, which took place around 8 a.m., was confirmed by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, who reported that the raccoon was safely released outside and that no injuries were reported.

“The raccoon was safely located and released outside, with no further sightings reported,” the Port Authority stated. It also announced that wildlife control experts were working with airport staff to inspect the area, seal potential entry points, and implement further preventive measures.

LaGuardia Airport, historically notorious for its cramped facilities, underwent an $8 billion renovation that upgraded Terminals B and C, garnering awards for its modernized design. However, Spirit Airlines operates out of Terminal A, the original six-gate Marine Air Terminal built in 1940, which remains preserved as a historic landmark.

The raccoon at LaGuardia isn’t the first of its kind to capture public attention in unusual places this year. In May, a raccoon interrupted a soccer game in Chester, Pennsylvania, prompting stadium staff to chase it with trash cans.

While raccoons in the U.S. continue to amuse and bewilder with surprise appearances, they have become an invasive species in Germany, where an estimated two million roam the countryside. In an effort to manage the population, one German butcher, Michael Reiss, recently told CNN that he has begun turning raccoons into various meat products, including “raccoon balls” and sausages.