Passenger rifle explodes, causing chaos at Atlanta airport, owners fleeing Reuters

(Reuters) – The gun owner fled after his weapon was accidentally shot at Atlanta airport, sending frightened passengers running on tarred Saturday, with no injuries but stopping the plane during Thanksgiving vacation.

About two hours after the 1:30 pm explosion at a security checkpoint at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, officials issued “reasonable” and the flight resumed, the headquarters said on Twitter (NYSE :).

“After the weapon was completed, he took off and was able to get out of the airport,” airport spokesman Andrew Gobeil told CNN. “He was not allowed to go.”

Gobeil said authorities were trying to find the owner of the gun.

“Because he was in the process of being tested, we have all the information,” Gobeil said.

The immediate fear that the shooter had opened fire caught the crowd, which ran out of the terminal and onto the tar.

“More and more people started running – it was screaming,” said traveler Erika Zeidler, who sent photos to CNN showing many people running on tar, some pulling suitcases.

Hartsfield-Jackson was the busiest airport in 2021, according to the Official Airline Guide (OAG).

Atlanta airport is expected to be very busy during the Thanksgiving tour, with prepandemic-size troops expected to be evacuated from Friday, Nov. 19 to Sunday, Nov. 28, Transportation Security Administration said.

“Authorities have issued all #ATLAirport notices and operations have begun,” the airport said at 3:24 pm.