Major U.S. Airport Cancels Nearly 400 Flights Amid Busy July 4th Travel
ABC News reported that the powerful storm system triggered ground stops, 90 flight diversions, and even a temporary evacuation of the airport's air traffic control tower. High winds, lightning, and quarter-inch hail moved through Friday evening, bringing operations to a halt and creating ripple effects into the weekend.
The majority of the disruptions were tied to Delta Air Lines, which canceled around 380 flights and conducted emergency inspections on nearly 100 aircraft for potential hail damage.
Most of the planes were cleared to return to service by Saturday morning, but the airline warned of continuing delays as crews worked to normalize schedules.
'Delta people are working as safely and quickly as possible to recover flights impacted by thunderstorms, lightning, hail, and winds at our Atlanta hub Friday night,' the airline said in a statement. 'We thank our customers for their continued patience and understanding.'
The Federal Aviation Administration confirmed that the air traffic control tower at Hartsfield-Jackson was briefly evacuated Friday night due to intense wind conditions. ATC audio revealed that just three personnel, one controller, a supervisor, and a traffic manager, remained behind to handle limited operations.
The storm forced a cascade of diversions across the Southeast, delaying hundreds of passengers and stranding others overnight. Social media was flooded with photos of crowded terminals and travelers waiting on answers as the weather passed.
Though the skies began to clear Saturday morning, the damage was already done. Travelers were advised to check with airlines before heading to the airport, as residual delays and rescheduled flights were expected to continue through the day.
With peak summer travel in full swing, the sudden disruption served as a reminder of how vulnerable even the most sophisticated airport systems are to severe weather.Major U.S. Airport Cancels Nearly 400 Flights Amid Busy July 4th Travel first appeared on Men's Journal on Jun 28, 2025
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