Coyote delays jets at busy Atlanta airport

[March 23, 2011]  ATLANTA, Ga. (AP) -- Authorities say a coyote wandered onto a runway in Atlanta, delaying flights for a few minutes at the world's busiest airport until ground crews chased the animal away.

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports that the flights were briefly delayed Tuesday afternoon at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport.

Federal Aviation Administration spokeswoman Kathleen Bergen said the coyote was spotted on the south side of the airport around 3:30 p.m.

She said an airport vehicle chased the animal into a ravine, and flights resumed after about five minutes.

The airport is ranked the world's busiest by the industry group Airports Council International.

[Associated Press]

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