Atlanta, GA
World's busiest airport tightens security: No more loitering at Atlanta’s airport
Atlanta airport restrictions grace period ends
The grace period for changes to airport security rules at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport has ended. A policy that places 24-7 restrictions around who can be on the property went into effect Monday.
ATLANTA – New security rules at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport have moved past the grace period into enforcement. The new policy, implemented on Monday, places a 24-7 restriction on those who can be on the property.
The airport, which continues to hold its title as the world’s busiest airport, wants it to also be the world’s safest airport. Officials are hoping the around-the-clock monitoring of who can and cannot be in the terminal will help ensure the airport’s safety.
“This is a culmination response to a broad swath of issues,” said Atlanta City Council member Michael Bond.
Since January 2022, Atlanta police say officers have been called to investigate more than 900 cases of larceny, burglary, assault, robbery, and shoplifting at the airport.
“There’ve been incidents where we’ve had some attacks by persons who came into the terminal and atrium areas, we’ve had repeated amounts of shoplifting and other small and petty crimes,” Bond said.
Bond says issues prompted city leaders to act earlier this year. They formed a task force that recommended limiting around-the-clock access at the airport to passengers, workers and other people conducting official business.
“The airport was already restricted during some nighttime hours…if you were coming into the facility you had to show a reason why you were there…those hours basically have been extended 24 hours a day,” Bond said.
After a 60-day grace period, the change went into effect on Monday.
“Atlanta police can question you if they believe you’re doing something suspicious or engaged in some activity that is not related to what would be considered a justified reason for being on the property,” Bond said.
While most passengers support the measures, some are concerned it could be used to profile people.
The domestic and international terminals, the SkyTrain, rental car center, and parking decks are all included in this new policy.
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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