In this article, airlines canceled more than 3,000 flights on Friday due to a massive winter storm causing travel disruptions across the Southern U.S., with over 4,000 other flights experiencing delays.
Operations faced additional challenges when a Delta Air Lines Boeing 757-300 had to abort takeoff due to an engine issue at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, the world’s busiest airport and Delta’s main hub. The 201 passengers and seven crew members on board were evacuated using emergency slides.
Minor injuries were reported by four passengers, with one individual transported for treatment and three receiving on-site care, as confirmed by an airport spokesperson. The Federal Aviation Administration has initiated an investigation into the incident.
Delta stated that the flight crew followed standard procedures to halt the takeoff of flight 2668 from Atlanta to Minneapolis-St. Paul upon detecting an engine problem. The airline emphasized the priority of safety for both passengers and staff, expressing regret for any inconvenience caused and committing to assisting passengers in reaching their destinations safely and promptly.
Flight tracker FlightAware reported that over 1,100 flights to and from Atlanta, comprising more than half of the day’s flights, were canceled, with an additional 400 flights experiencing delays. A ground stop was implemented at the airport to prevent an influx of flights.
The storm heavily impacted American Airlines’ hubs at Dallas Fort Worth International Airport and Charlotte Douglas International Airport, resulting in the cancellation of over 1,200 flights to and from these locations. DFW also faced significant cancellations the previous day due to snowfall from the storm.
Delta, Southwest, American, and other airlines waived change fees and fare differences in response to the severe weather conditions and storms.
