What Is That? Mysterious Green Liquid Floods Terminal Floor At Miami International Airport

Summary

Green liquid at Miami airport caused concern but turned out to be harmless water from an AC system leak with added dye to spot leaks.
No delays occurred due to the green liquid leak, but construction at the airport may cause passengers to arrive earlier from May to November 2024.
Miami International Airport is investing $7 billion for improvements and $1.7 billion for maintenance, contributing to the local economy.

On July 4th, part of Miami International Airport’s Concourse G was flooded with a layer of luminous green liquid. The area was quickly cordoned off with caution tape, but it didn’t stop passengers from snapping videos and photos.

Who you gonna call?

The luminous green liquid eerily resembles ectoplasm from the Ghostbusters movie franchise, but it’s not as sinister. Reports about the leak started to come in around nine in the morning, and many travelers were quite nervous about stepping into the puddles.

According to NBC Miami, Miami-Dade Aviation Department Communications Director Greg Chin said in a statement that the liquid is water from an AC system leak and is completely harmless. A green dye is added to the water to help spot leaks.

Initially, Miami International Airport (MIA) authorities thought the liquid was glycol, which is mainly found in antifreeze and is highly toxic in large concentrations. Luckily, the leak has not resulted in any delays, which is good news for passengers and the airport, which is preparing to screen a record number of passengers for the July 4th weekend.

Airport authorities later said, “The valve feeding the pipe has been closed to stop the leaking, and cleanup efforts are now underway.” to give passengers a path to walk through, the airport utilized barriers that resemble pool noodles to contain the flow of the liquid.

The airport later confirmed that the cleanup was completed within roughly 90 minutes of the initial reports.

Construction at MIA

While the green liquid might not result in delays, other situations inconvenience passengers traveling to the airport.

The airport announced in late April that from May to November 2024, passengers should arrive earlier due to possible delays caused by the construction of the Flamingo Parking Garage extension.

MIA’s lower drive, which is on the arrivals level, will be reduced to three lanes from Concourses G to J (Doors 20 to 33). The dedicated lane for taxis will remain undisturbed. However, hotel shuttles will pick up and drop off passengers at the departure level. To prevent congestion, the airport will staff personnel in the area to ensure a smooth traffic flow.

Miami International Airport

The groundbreaking ceremony for the $136 million project occurred in February this year. The new garage will have seven levels, increasing the airport’s parking capacity by 2,240. MIA also plans to future-proof the complex, with 50 spaces for electric vehicle charging and energy-efficient LED lighting, among other sustainability features.

The extension will feature a Parksmart Silver Certification design—a global certification program that measures and recognizes high-performing, sustainable garages. The project is scheduled to be completed in the summer of 2026.

Additional investments

MIA is the busiest airport for International freight and the second busiest airport for international passengers.

In January, the airport Mayor Daniella Levine Cava announced a massive $7 billion capital investment for improvements and another $1.7 billion for maintenance. The move is a no-brainer as MIA is one of the biggest drivers of economic growth and activity in the Miami area, contributing indirectly to the business revenue of $31.9 billion.