CHENNAI: Chennai international airport had an unexpected wild visitor on Tuesday — a monkey that had no intention of flying out but appeared determined to give passengers waiting to board flights a fright.A video of the monkey roaming around the international departure terminal, helping itself to food and startling passengers went viral on social media. The animal was seen munching on food from eateries inside the airport while moving through the passenger areas, prompting travellers and airport staffers to keep their distance.The monkey reportedly entered the departure area, located on the second floor of the airport, and first made its way into a restaurant selling sandwiches, bread, cakes, biscuits and other snacks. On spotting the animal, restaurant employees and passengers who were seated there reportedly screamed and ran out.The monkey then moved into an area where passengers were waiting to travel abroad. It was seen picking up food from restaurants and snack counters, eating it and wandering around the terminal, much to the alarm of passengers.When some airport employees attempted to drive the monkey away, it reportedly responded aggressively, threatening them and refusing to leave.The animal continued to roam inside the airport for more than four hours, causing concern among passengers, airline employees, airport staffers and Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) personnel.Airport authorities said the forest department had been alerted and that efforts were under way to safely capture and remove the monkey. Officials said they were monitoring its movements and would assist the forest department in locating the animal.Authorities said measures had already been put in place to prevent birds and animals from entering the airport, including strong wire mesh and metal barriers. However, it was not immediately clear how the monkey managed to breach these safeguards. Officials said steps would be taken to identify the entry point and strengthen preventive measures to ensure such incidents do not recur.The incident comes just days after another unusual visitor made headlines at Chennai airport. A pigeon was filmed feeding on leftover food in the security-hold area, with the video subsequently going viral on social media.The two incidents have raised questions over the measures in place to keep stray animals and birds from entering restricted areas of the busy international airport.Chennai airport has witnessed a similar incident in the past. Around eight years ago, a young monkey entered the airport and caused a disturbance before forest department officials from Velachery captured it using a cage and removed it from the premises.
