Atlanta, GA
Hours of restricted access at Atlanta airport to expand after plan approved
Atlanta airport to restrict 24/7 access
Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport will begin restricting access to the public areas of their terminals because of complaints about homeless people loitering at the airport. The Atlanta City Council approved the plan on Monday.
ATLANTA – The Atlanta City Council has approved a new plan aimed at addressing the issue of individuals seeking shelter at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport. The move comes as a response to the influx of people, at one point numbering up to 300, who were spending nights at the airport.
The numbers saw a decline after collaborative efforts between the airport and MARTA resulted in a plan to assist individuals in finding alternative accommodations.
During cold weather in Atlanta, homeless individuals often seek refuge at the world’s busiest airport. This has been a persistent issue that various entities, including the airport, city officials, and outreach groups, have attempted to address through task forces and efforts to find long-term solutions. The latest development involves a change in the city’s “loitering” ordinance for the airport, expanding access around the clock.
PREVIOUS STORY: Atlanta City Council moves forward with comprehensive plan to aid airport’s unhoused population
The previous policy restricted access between 11 p.m. and 4:30 a.m., but the newly passed ordinance unanimously by the Atlanta City Council removes those limitations.
Those who are neither flying nor picking up travelers will no longer be allowed inside the terminal. Airport officials cite passenger complaints of theft from baggage claim and unwanted harassment as reasons for this change.
In a statement, airport leaders emphasized that the legislation aims to clarify who is authorized to enter the airport and enhance safety and security protocols to maintain a secure environment for all.
The Georgia Department of Transportation announced that a major weekend construction project, set to fully shut down two miles of I-285, has been postponed due to inclement weather. Atlantans are relieved, with many looking forward to more freedom to travel this Mothers’ Day weekend. Kim Leoffler has the story.
ATLANTA – An Atlanta flight attendant and mother of eight is among 17,000 Spirit Airlines workers struggling to find a new “destination” after the carrier suddenly shut down.
Spirit Airlines Atlanta impact
What we know:
Spirit Airlines ended all operations on Saturday, grounding its entire fleet and ending employment for its 17,000-person workforce. Flight attendants and customers were stranded across the country, often forced to pay for their own travel home after the discount carrier ceased operations.
Kamille Carter, an Atlanta-based flight attendant of five years, said she received the termination email from the CEO at 3 a.m., despite earlier assurances from union representatives that the company was stable. The company immediately cut healthcare benefits and stopped payments for sick leave and vacation time for all staff members.
Unpaid wages and benefits
What we don’t know:
It is unclear if Carter and her fellow employees will ever receive their final paychecks or if there is any legal recourse for the lost benefits. The company has not specified if any transition assistance will be provided to workers, some of whom had been with the airline since it launched in 1994.
Employee reaction in Georgia
What they’re saying:
“This is a death because you have to mourn, you have to grieve, it’s a process,” Carter said of the sudden job loss. Despite the financial strain of supporting eight children, Carter is looking toward her passion for cooking as a potential new career. She noted that while being uncomfortable is difficult, it can “push you to your destiny.”
Finding help in Atlanta
What you can do:
Community members looking to support Carter and other local workers affected by the shutdown can find more information on the FOX 5 Atlanta website. The station is collecting resources for those navigating the sudden loss of income and healthcare.
The Source: The information in this story was gathered from an interview conducted by FOX 5 reporter Eric Perry, who spoke directly with former flight attendant Kamille Carter in Atlanta. Previous FOX 5 Atlanta reporting was also used.
The search for missing 16-year-old Benjamin Braithwaite is over. Atlanta police announced just before midnight Thursday that he had been located, more than a week after he vanished from his Regency Trace home.
The department shared the update on social media but did not release additional details about where he was found or the circumstances surrounding his recovery.
Braithwaite had been missing since the night of April 27, when he was last seen around 9 p.m. at his home in Atlanta. His family said they had no contact with him during the entire time he was gone.
The disappearance of the KIPP Atlanta Collegiate High School sophomore and basketball team member had galvanized the Atlanta community. His family, teammates, Atlanta police officers and neighbors gathered at the school last week to raise awareness about his disappearance. Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, where his mother works, joined the search effort — asking the public to watch for him at MARTA stops and fast food restaurants.
A $10,000 reward had been offered for credible information leading to his safe return.
“Even small details matter. Your awareness could make the difference,” the airport wrote in an Instagram post earlier this week.
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