Nearly 500 flights were canceled from Atlanta Airport due to the harsh weather
Nearly 500 flights traveling inside and outside the Hartfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport were canceled due to the harsh weather that affects Atlanta Metropolitan.
On Friday night, a group of storms has long produced heavy rains in most Atlanta, according to the National Air Services Office in the city.
Heavy rains led to large flashing floods in the area around the airport, as well as Grant Park, College Park, Forest Park.
A video posted on social media showed the travelers who were stuck at the airport amid delay and cancellation sitting on the ground when some other travelers sleep. Another video on X depicts lightning lights the sky in Hampton, one of the suburbs of Atlanta.
Thunderstorms in the region are expected to continue this weekend, specifically during the afternoon and evenings, according to the Field Office for Weather Service in Atlanta.
As of 3 pm on Saturday, 468 travels from Atlanta Airport were canceled and 540 were delayed Flightaware.com. Several flights are operated by Delta Air Lines, whose headquarters are at the city airport.
The airline said in a statement, “The people of Delta are working safely and faster as possible to restore the flights affected by thunderstorms, lightning, cold and wind at the Atlanta Center on Friday night,” the airline said in a statement. “We thank our customers for their continued patience and understanding.”
The severe thunderstorms that affected the airport, including strong winds and a cold on a quarter of inches, resulted in more than 90 transfers to other airports in the southeast, according to the airline. The harsh weather also stopped the operations of Atlanta Airport for safety reasons on Friday night.
Hartfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport immediately did not respond to a request for comment.
Delta also said that she expects additional delays and canceling Saturday, as the teams work to reset aircraft and crew members get a rest. The airline has more than 900 daily flights scheduled from Atlanta Airport.