Latest news with #JacksonvilleInternationalAirport
Yahoo
11-06-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
‘Extremely frustrating': People still without answers or cars after JIA garage fire
Nearly one month after the parking garage fire that damaged 50 cars at the Jacksonville International Airport, people are still having issues getting information about their cars. Tracey Casteel says she was only told by the valet company SP+ that they were unable to get her car and that she had to take a Lyft or Uber. She only found out her car was melted from seeing her car on the news. 'It's like when I watch my cat chase her tail. It's just you're going in circles, only you're hitting brick walls everywhere you go,' said Casteel. That's how Casteel describes her experience dealing with Jacksonville International Airport and the Valet service SP+ since the fire. >>> STREAM ACTION NEWS JAX LIVE <<< [DOWNLOAD: Free Action News Jax app for alerts as news breaks] She hasn't been able to get access to the car since returning back to Jacksonville on May 19th. She says she contacted the airport when the fire first happened. 'I did the little online thing of putting in your car and everything, but everything tells you if you're valet parked that you have to talk to the valet folks,' Casteel says. 'I have attempted to reach the airport through social media and different things like that. I've gotten no response from the airport.' Because she can't get to the car, she can't get anything done through her insurance either. She's been paying for a rental while she tries to get some answers from the airport or the valet company. 'The airport has not necessarily talked to directly the folks that valet parked, because valet parking is managed by another company. They have spoken to us, and I actually was able to reach out to a couple of different folks, even at their corporate office in leadership roles, but they can only tell us what the airport tells them,' said Casteel. 'Just trying to get some answers has been extremely frustrating.' Action News Jax has reached out to both JIA and the valet company SP+ to get a response on this. JIA responded asking for names of the people who had not been contacted. We have yet to hear back from SP+. [SIGN UP: Action News Jax Daily Headlines Newsletter]
Yahoo
09-06-2025
- Yahoo
Delta flight from Atlanta diverted to Jacksonville over smoke in cabin
A Delta flight from Atlanta had to be diverted to Jacksonville after the cabin filled with smoke. Delta Flight 1576 from Atlanta was diverted to Cecil Airport in Jacksonville after the crew declared an emergency onboard. The plane landed safely, and crews 'from Jacksonville International Airport are on the way to assist customers and coordinate carry-on and checked baggage retrieval.' TRENDING STORIES: Another risk for strong to severe storms today Giant tree crashes into another, sends it toppling onto Cobb County rental home Driver charged in crash that killed South Fulton police captain appears in court Delta said there were 200 customers on board, along with two pilots and four flight attendants. 'We apologize to our customers for the experience. Safety comes before everything else at Delta, and our teams will now focus on taking care of our customers and getting them to their destinations,' Delta said in a statement. Stay with and tune into Channel 2 Action News RIGHT NOW for the latest on this developing story.
Yahoo
30-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Cars trapped, questions unanswered: Frustration grows after JIA parking garage fire
Nearly two weeks after a massive fire tore through a parking garage at Jacksonville International Airport, drivers with cars still trapped inside say they're frustrated by the lack of answers. Zachary Willis is one of them. 'It's more just very annoying,' Willis told Action News Jax. 'We don't know where to go. I don't know if I should be truck shopping, trying to contact my insurance.' His truck is still stuck on the third level of the airport's hourly garage, and despite the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) saying photos should be allowed, Willis said he hasn't been able to see the damage. >>> STREAM ACTION NEWS JAX LIVE <<< 'I know my vehicle is in the restricted area,' Willis said. 'They were like, 'We don't have it registered.' Until yesterday, when they said, 'We've identified your tag.' I'm like, oh, that's interesting.' Willis said the airport call center hasn't been much help, and communication has been inconsistent. According to the Jacksonville Aviation Authority, about 100 vehicles remain trapped inside the garage. An estimated 50 cars were damaged or burned in the fire. Some of the impacted drivers are now turning to legal help. 'I've reviewed every single one of these cases that's come into the office,' said Ryan Will, an attorney with Morgan & Morgan. He said the firm is representing about 20 clients affected by the fire. 'What we've informed all of our clients is the statute of limitations in the state of Florida is two years,' Will explained. 'The State Fire Marshal is working to determine the origin and the cause of the fire.' Will said each case is different, and proving negligence will depend on the results of that investigation and what evidence is uncovered. Jacksonville City Councilmember and State Farm agent Matt Carlucci said his and his wife's vehicles were also in the garage — but they were able to get them out last week. 'But a lot of people were not as lucky,' Carlucci said. He's encouraging drivers to contact their insurance providers now. 'Call your insurance company,' Carlucci said. 'Say, 'Can we file a pre-claim?' I think by now, if they haven't gotten their car back, in all likelihood, they very well may have damage.' The Jacksonville Aviation Authority has contacted most of the 700 vehicle owners affected but said it is still working to reach the remaining few. If your car was in the JIA garage, you can check its status or contact the airport for assistance by visiting [DOWNLOAD: Free Action News Jax app for alerts as news breaks] [SIGN UP: Action News Jax Daily Headlines Newsletter]
Yahoo
28-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
ATF still investigating Jacksonville International Airport garage fire, structure could be salvaged
Jacksonville International Airport leaders say it is still too early to determine what will happen to the south end of the Hourly Parking Garage after a fire on May 16 that burned about 50 cars. Michael Stewart, VP of External Affairs with the Jacksonville Aviation Authority, said the ATF (Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives) is treating the third and fourth floors of the garage as a crime scene until they can determine the cause of the fire. While the ATF conducts its investigations, about 100 cars between the two most impacted floors will have to stay where they are. 'We still have a crime scene area and a structurally compromised area that we cannot get into,' Stewart said. Once the cause of the fire is determined, that's when Stewart said construction crews can start to work their way through the third and fourth floors, assess the damage, and decide how the structure can be repaired. PHOTO GALLERY: Parking garage fire at Jacksonville International Airport RELATED: Jacksonville International Airport Hourly Parking Garage Fire: Timeline of events Right now, Stewart said there is hope that the structure can be salvaged without demolition, but there is no way to say that for sure until crews make their assessment. He said the crews have already started to shore up, or reinforce the strength of the structure with beams and columns, on the lower-level floors of the garage. Stewart touts the success of the airport's efforts to reunite drivers with their cars. [DOWNLOAD: Free Action News Jax app for alerts as news breaks] 'Seven hundred vehicle owners were contacted in this process, and the call center made contact with 3,500 people just last week,' Stewart said. He said there are still about 17 people that the airport has not made contact with, though. For those people who still need to make contact with airport officials, Stewart said they can: Go to and supply the information required Or call 904-741-2710 and leave a message [SIGN UP: Action News Jax Daily Headlines Newsletter] Stewart also said that while the airport has made moves to accommodate the parking lapse with the opening of 300 economy lot spots, he's still encouraging flyers to be dropped off instead of parking. 'We are going to be down and challenged with respect to parking, but we have enough parking for people coming to the airport now,' he said. Stewart said there is no estimated timeline for when the ATF could complete its investigation. Click here to download the free Action News Jax news and weather apps, click here to download the Action News Jax Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Action News Jax live.
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Airport reopens most parking areas, reunites some owners and cars ahead of travel weekend
Owners are beginning to get their cars back nearly a week after a fire devastated parts of a parking garage at the Jacksonville International Airport. The process of moving cars out of the South Hourly Garage and into a temporary lot for pickup began Wednesday night, and officials said the process will likely take multiple days. 'When we get to a safe vehicle we'll log the tag, cross-reference it with what we have in our database and give the person a call and tell them their vehicle is available,' said Greg Willis, Marketing and Public Relations Manager at the Jacksonville Aviation Authority. 'We're working round the clock to do what we can to get as many out in a safe manner and safely relocate them.' Once inside the lot of Pecan Park Road, owners can grab them whenever they're able. Car owners can submit their information for updates on the airport's website. Just in time for the Memorial Day travel weekend, JAA announced Thursday that all parking areas have also reopened, aside from the southern portion of the Hourly Garage. Related: Navigating limited airport parking for Memorial Day weekend: Here are some options Not everyone is getting their cars back right now. Those whose cars were severely damaged or were in the collapse zone will have to wait. 'One thing I've learned since last Friday is one problem at a time, and this is today's problem, getting people the vehicles that we can salvage,' said Willis. Several people who have been impacted are already seeking legal help. >>> STREAM ACTION NEWS JAX LIVE <<< [DOWNLOAD: Free Action News Jax app for alerts as news breaks] Below is a statement from law firm Morgan & Morgan: 'We have been retained by several people impacted by the massive fire at Jacksonville International Airport's Hourly Parking Garage whose cars, along with dozens of others, have been destroyed. We have already begun to investigate what went wrong and what could have been done to prevent this fire. We will work to uncover any negligence that contributed to this scary and dangerous incident and hold potentially responsible parties accountable for the damage caused.' When informed about the legal firm's investigation, Jacksonville International Airport told Action News Jax that right now, it is 'focused on reuniting passengers who parked in the hourly garage with their vehicles, stabilizing the comprised garage structure and returning the airport to normal operations.' [SIGN UP: Action News Jax Daily Headlines Newsletter] Click here to download the free Action News Jax news and weather apps, click here to download the Action News Jax Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Action News Jax live.
