The air traffic control tower at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport was briefly evacuated on Friday after a fire alarm and reports of a gas smell. The evacuation occurred around 5 p.m., triggering a ground stop for all inbound flights until 6:15 p.m. The restriction was lifted approximately 45 minutes later, according to FOX 5 Atlanta.
“Just keep taxiing V then F,” one controller instructed a pilot via LiveATC.net recording. “Were evacuating, so we are going ATC Zero, so you can call the ramp when you get close.” “ATC Zero” indicates the FAA facility ceased providing air traffic control services. Another controller told pilots, “Everyone is going downstairs, so we’ll see what is happening here.” A ground controller added, “The frequency is going to be unmanned for a while… just hold tight.”
A ground stop forced flights bound for the airport to wait before taking off. Some aircraft in the air were permitted to land with assistance from approach controllers, though they typically transfer to the tower for final landing instructions. An FAA official confirmed Atlanta Fire Rescue investigated the situation.
Flight data from FlightAware.com showed delays rising from 280 to 360 during the incident. By nightfall, canceled flights neared 600, with 10 flights canceled on Friday. Sources told FOX 5’s Tyler Fingert that some aircraft were diverted or placed in holding patterns. Radar images revealed multiple planes circling near the Georgia line. Firefighters confirmed no gas was found in the tower.
