Passengers Attacked by ‘Wild Animal’ in Airport Terminal (Video)

Travelers at Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport got an unexpected surprise when a large green bird flew into a busy terminal and began swooping down on passengers, landing on their heads and attempting to bite anyone who got too close.

The unusual encounter unfolded Tuesday, October 13, inside Terminal 5, where passengers waiting near the Air France check-in counters suddenly found themselves sharing the airport with an uninvited feathered visitor.

Video recorded by airport employee Paris Elbert showed the bird darting around the terminal, landing on luggage and even perching on travelers’ heads. Some passengers ducked out of the way, while others tried unsuccessfully to catch the animal.

Elbert, who witnessed the commotion during his afternoon shift, told CBS News Chicago that the bird apparently entered through an open door and remained loose for hours.

What initially seemed like an amusing encounter quickly became more chaotic as passengers tried to approach the bird.

Although several travelers appeared eager to help, the frightened animal reportedly responded by lunging and attempting to bite people who reached toward it.

“It was funny, but it was crazy. Sad too,” Elbert told the station.

He explained that people initially thought the green bird was adorable, but their attempts to catch or comfort it only seemed to make the situation worse.

The bird’s unexpected adventure eventually came to an end when an airport janitor managed to capture it using her shirt.

According to Elbert, the worker took the animal to a veterinarian for an examination and to determine whether it might belong to someone.

Fortunately, there were no confirmed reports of serious injuries associated with the encounter.

While the airport excitement attracted plenty of attention online, many viewers were more concerned about the bird’s condition than its unusual behavior.

Footage appeared to show missing feathers around the animal’s neck, prompting speculation that it might have been frightened, injured or separated from an owner.

Some social media users wondered whether the bird was an escaped pet, while others suggested it could belong to one of Chicago’s established populations of wild parakeets.

That possibility isn’t as unusual as it might sound.

Chicago has been home to wild monk parakeets for decades, despite the city’s famously harsh winters.

The bright green birds are native to South America, but escaped and released pets have established breeding populations in several American cities.

According to research from the University of Chicago, monk parakeets were already living in the city’s Hyde Park neighborhood by the late 1960s.

Unlike many other parrots, monk parakeets build large communal nests out of sticks, helping them survive cold weather in urban environments.

The Cornell Lab of Ornithology notes that populations have also become established in cities including New York, Dallas and Miami.

However, the species of the O’Hare bird has not been officially confirmed, and it remains unclear whether it was a wild animal or someone’s missing pet.

Its ultimate condition and ownership were also not immediately known.

Animal experts generally recommend avoiding attempts to chase or grab unfamiliar birds, especially when they appear frightened or trapped indoors. Sudden movements and crowds can increase stress and make a frightened animal more difficult to rescue.

Instead, travelers encountering an unexpected animal inside an airport should notify employees and allow trained personnel to handle the situation.

For passengers at O’Hare, the incident turned an ordinary afternoon of checking luggage and preparing for flights into a scene they probably won’t forget.

And for one very confused green bird, what started as an unexpected trip through an airport terminal ended with a rescue and a chance to receive veterinary care.