Atlanta, GA
Suspected stalker follows Atlanta family onto plane at DC airport
Mother describes security scare on Delta flight
A security scare on a Delta Air Lines flight had an Atlanta-area mother and her family terrified. Officials confirm a man was able to make it onto an Atlanta-bound plane at Washington Dulles International Airport without a boarding pass for that flight.
ATLANTA – The end of a family trip to the nation’s Capitol took a terrifying turn on August 4 when Lauren Benton and her family showed up for their Delta Air Lines flight at Washington Dulles International Airport, that is when she says a man got too close for comfort.
“I would go so far as to say stalking us,” she said.
Benton said they noticed the man after going through security. She says he followed the family of four to a seating area and at one point joined Benton and one of her young daughters in the women’s restroom.
“My heart was racing, and my immediate attention was drawn to my children,” Benton said. “Where are they? And I need to keep them close to me now.”
Eventually, they went to board their Delta flight home to Atlanta, but that is when the situation got worse. The man followed them onto the flight and sat right next to them.
“I was just questioning his intentions the entire time and I know that child trafficking is absolutely a growing problem here in the United States and so that was the first thing that came to mind,” Benton said.
She says she reported him to a flight attendant, and eventually he was removed because he should not have been on board. Officials confirmed the passenger had a ticket, just not on that Delta flight.
Airport officials say the passenger was not charged.
Lauren Benton says she and her family were stalked at Washington Dulles International Airport with the person even following them onto a Delta Air Lines plane even though he did not have a boarding pass for that flight. (Supplied)
The airline tells FOX 5 it is investigating. In a statement it said, “Delta has processes in place for gate agents and flight crews to verify that individuals onboard aircraft prior to departure are customers that are booked on that particular flight. Delta is reviewing the matter in question internally and has been in touch with airport authorities in conjunction with this review.”
“I was shocked and felt nauseous, I could not believe the magnitude of the safety breach,” Benton said.
Benton says her sense of safety at the airport was shattered. She hopes others take note of this situation.
“If your gut is giving you the sense that something is off and wrong, don’t be afraid to speak up,” she said.
Benton says her young daughters are scared after this. She says she is frustrated with the lack of response here and says Delta needs to do more.
This story is being reported out of Atlanta
Travel trends nationwide suggest more people are staying close to home this year due to higher oil and gas prices. Some 71 percent of Americans plan road trips for summer vacations, according to Hilton’s 2026 Trends Report.
Another study, by Bank of America, found consumers are responding to higher gas prices by taking fewer trips, reducing travel budgets, cutting back on accommodations, or choosing destinations closer to home.
Catcher Jair Camargo collected his first big league hit in the top of the ninth tonight. He was added for the double-header today.
This was his first MLB appearance since 2024 with the Twins. He was hitless in seven plate appearances for Minnesota.
He struck out in his first at bat with Atlanta before doubling for his first base knock.
Congratulations.
Communities across metro Atlanta are hosting Juneteenth festivals, performances, markets and family-friendly events over the next several days. President Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation in 1863. The holiday commemorates the day in 1865 when Texas learned that slavery had ended and the last of the enslaved people were to be freed.
Historian Henry Louis Gates has estimated there were about 250,000 freed in the state of Texas.
Below are some of the events taking place around metro Atlanta.
Sandy Springs
The city’s annual Juneteenth celebration will be held from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. Friday at City Springs. The event will feature live performances, art exhibits, artisan vendors, food trucks and more.
Roswell
Roswell will host an artisan market honoring Juneteenth at 1 p.m. Friday in the lobby of the Roswell Cultural Arts Center.
According to a city statement, “This is your opportunity to meet the creators behind the work, hear their stories firsthand, and take a piece of the experience home. Artists will have additional prints and affordable original pieces available for purchase, making this a wonderful chance to invest in and celebrate the work of African American artists in our community.”
Gwinnett
Several Juneteenth events are planned throughout Gwinnett County.
In Norcross, cellist Okorie “OkCello” Johnson and the Wonders of Worship Youth Choir from Hopewell Baptist Church will perform at the Cultural Arts and Community Center at 11 a.m. Friday.
In Lilburn, the GAPS Society, representing Georgia Autism Parental Support, will host food, games and activities for all ages from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Friday at J.B. Williams Park.
The United Ebony Society will celebrate Juneteenth on Saturday at the Gwinnett County Fairgrounds with a festival featuring music, games and food from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m.
The Black Women’s Association of Sugar Hill will host its seventh annual Juneteenth event with the Miss Juneteenth pageant, music, food, games, and a scholarship award. The festivities will take place from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. at 5039 W. Broad Street.
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