Flights in Chaos: Atlanta Airport Battles Storms During Peak Travel Time

Atlanta's Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport, the world's busiest, faced a tough night due to severe weather. Hundreds of flights were canceled, and many more were delayed, causing headaches for travelers. Delta Air Lines, which calls Atlanta its home base, was hit the hardest. Nearly 14% of its flights were grounded. The airline is working hard to get things back to normal but warns that more cancellations are likely over the weekend. The storm brought strong winds and hail, forcing air traffic controllers to evacuate the control tower. Only a small team stayed to manage incoming flights. The hail damaged over 100 Delta planes, requiring inspections before they could fly again. The airport also had a temporary ground stop, which means no planes could take off for a while. However, officials say this didn't cause any major issues. This all comes as millions of people are getting ready to travel for the Fourth of July holiday. The AAA predicts that 72. 2 million people will travel at least 50 miles from home during this period, with nearly 6 million expected to fly. Atlanta's airport alone expected nearly 400, 000 passengers on Friday and over 4 million during the holiday period. In 2024, the airport served more than 100 million passengers, making it busier than London's Heathrow or Dubai International Airport. Travelers are advised to check their flight status and stay flexible, as the situation is still unfolding.