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On Monday (August 4), travelers at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, the busiest airport in the United States, faced an unexpected and unpleasant surprise when sewage burst through a ceiling panel, causing chaos and discomfort among passengers. The incident occurred in the Lower North Checkpoint area of the terminal.
Footage captured by Jamaal Carlos Jr., a passenger waiting for a delayed flight to Dallas, shows the murky water gushing from the ceiling. Carlos described the scene as "stomach-churning," noting that the water poured for 10 to 15 seconds before the ceiling collapsed, releasing a foul odor. "It stinks so bad," Carlos recounted to WXIA, adding that debris fell from the ceiling and that it took five to ten minutes for airport crews to respond and cordon off the area with caution tape.
Airport officials quickly rerouted passengers to minimize disruption and temporarily closed the affected checkpoint. Despite these efforts, the smell lingered, noticeable even two or three gates away.
The airport's spokesperson stated that the affected area has been contained, and remediation crews are actively working to clean and sanitize the space. Customer service representatives and emergency medical crews were deployed to ensure passenger safety and minimal disruption to airport operations. Officials are investigating the cause of the leak but have not yet confirmed whether the liquid was sewage.