‘Like something from a horror film’: Stomach-turning moment brown sludge showers from ceiling—and it’s not water
- Replies 0
If you thought the worst thing you could encounter at an airport was a delayed flight or a lost suitcase, think again!
Travellers at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport—America’s busiest—were recently treated to a scene straight out of a disaster movie, and it’s enough to make anyone’s stomach turn.
On Monday, a shocking video captured by Jamaal Carlos Jr. made the rounds online, showing brown, murky water—believed to be raw sewage—suddenly bursting through a ceiling panel in one of the airport’s terminals.
The footage is not for the faint-hearted: water gushes down in torrents, debris rains from above, and stunned passengers scramble to get out of the way, some pinching their noses in a desperate attempt to block out the overwhelming stench.
Carlos described the ordeal: ‘As we’re waiting, we see water just pouring from the ceiling. It had been pouring consistently for maybe 10 to 15 seconds, and it just progressively got worse. The ceiling fell through and it stinks so bad.’
He went on to say that it took about five to ten minutes for airport crews to respond and cordon off the area with yellow caution tape. In the meantime, people were still walking through the mess, and the smell lingered for several gates in either direction.
Eventually, airport officials rerouted passengers and temporarily closed the Lower North Checkpoint to contain the situation.
According to a spokesperson, ‘The affected area has been contained and remediation crews are actively working to clean and sanitize the space.’
Source: 11Alive / Youtube.
Emergency medical teams were also on standby as a precaution, though officials assured the public that there was ‘no impact to overall airport operations.’
While the airport is investigating the cause of the leak, this incident raises some important questions about infrastructure and hygiene at major travel hubs.
With millions of people passing through airports like Atlanta’s every year, even a minor plumbing issue can quickly escalate into a major health and safety concern.
It’s enough to make you grateful for the high standards of cleanliness and maintenance at most Australian airports.
While we’ve all had our share of travel woes—long security lines, misplaced luggage, or the odd dodgy sandwich—raw sewage pouring from the ceiling is (thankfully) not something we’ve had to contend with Down Under.
Australian airports are subject to strict health and safety regulations, and incidents like this are extremely rare.
If you ever find yourself in a public place where there’s a sudden leak or flood—especially if it looks or smells suspicious—move away from the area as quickly as possible. Avoid contact with the water, as it could be contaminated.
Alert staff or security immediately, and follow any instructions from emergency personnel. And, of course, don’t be shy about asking for assistance or compensation if your travel plans are disrupted!
Read more: Airports should be strict with everyone—so how did a TV favourite get away with this?
We’d love to hear from you! Have you ever experienced a travel disaster—big or small—at an airport or elsewhere? How did you handle it? Share your stories in the comments below, and let’s commiserate (and maybe have a laugh) together. Safe travels, everyone!
Travellers at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport—America’s busiest—were recently treated to a scene straight out of a disaster movie, and it’s enough to make anyone’s stomach turn.
On Monday, a shocking video captured by Jamaal Carlos Jr. made the rounds online, showing brown, murky water—believed to be raw sewage—suddenly bursting through a ceiling panel in one of the airport’s terminals.
The footage is not for the faint-hearted: water gushes down in torrents, debris rains from above, and stunned passengers scramble to get out of the way, some pinching their noses in a desperate attempt to block out the overwhelming stench.
Travellers at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport were shocked when brown sewage water burst through a ceiling panel, sending debris and a foul smell through the terminal. Image source: 11Alive / Youtube.
Carlos described the ordeal: ‘As we’re waiting, we see water just pouring from the ceiling. It had been pouring consistently for maybe 10 to 15 seconds, and it just progressively got worse. The ceiling fell through and it stinks so bad.’
He went on to say that it took about five to ten minutes for airport crews to respond and cordon off the area with yellow caution tape. In the meantime, people were still walking through the mess, and the smell lingered for several gates in either direction.
Eventually, airport officials rerouted passengers and temporarily closed the Lower North Checkpoint to contain the situation.
According to a spokesperson, ‘The affected area has been contained and remediation crews are actively working to clean and sanitize the space.’
Source: 11Alive / Youtube.
Emergency medical teams were also on standby as a precaution, though officials assured the public that there was ‘no impact to overall airport operations.’
While the airport is investigating the cause of the leak, this incident raises some important questions about infrastructure and hygiene at major travel hubs.
With millions of people passing through airports like Atlanta’s every year, even a minor plumbing issue can quickly escalate into a major health and safety concern.
It’s enough to make you grateful for the high standards of cleanliness and maintenance at most Australian airports.
While we’ve all had our share of travel woes—long security lines, misplaced luggage, or the odd dodgy sandwich—raw sewage pouring from the ceiling is (thankfully) not something we’ve had to contend with Down Under.
Australian airports are subject to strict health and safety regulations, and incidents like this are extremely rare.
If you ever find yourself in a public place where there’s a sudden leak or flood—especially if it looks or smells suspicious—move away from the area as quickly as possible. Avoid contact with the water, as it could be contaminated.
Alert staff or security immediately, and follow any instructions from emergency personnel. And, of course, don’t be shy about asking for assistance or compensation if your travel plans are disrupted!
Read more: Airports should be strict with everyone—so how did a TV favourite get away with this?
We’d love to hear from you! Have you ever experienced a travel disaster—big or small—at an airport or elsewhere? How did you handle it? Share your stories in the comments below, and let’s commiserate (and maybe have a laugh) together. Safe travels, everyone!
