Frightened people screamed: a wild animal fell from the ceiling and paralyzed the airport

The footage shows the animal hanging from wires as airline staff and customers search for a place to hide.

Terrified staff and passengers at LaGuardia Airport in New York, USA, ran away from the Spirit Airlines check-in counter after they saw a raccoon hanging from the ceiling and then falling to the floor of the terminal. The wild animal began running from one corner of the room to another in confusion, while terrified people panicked and screamed.

One traveler was carrying an empty trash can and hoped to catch the mischievous creature, but in vain.

An airport official told reporters in an email that the raccoon was spotted around 8 a.m. It was quickly captured and then released outside the terminal.

"To ensure safe transportation, airport staff are working closely with a professional company that specializes in wildlife control and implementation of necessary safety measures. We conduct ongoing inspections and will do everything possible to prevent this from happening in the future," the statement said.