A storm in the southern United States caused the cancellation of over 3,000 flights on Friday, with thousands more delayed, according to FlightAware. Delta Airlines cited a “worse-than-expected mix of winter weather,” which shut down all five runways at Atlanta International Airport for more than two hours, compounding travel chaos.
Massive Winter Storm Disrupts U.S. Air Travel
Delta Airlines Impacted
• Delta canceled approximately 1,100 flights on Friday, working to recover operations by Saturday.
• A Delta Boeing 757-300 aborted takeoff in Atlanta due to an engine issue; over 200 passengers and crew evacuated via emergency slides.
Major Airports Affected
• Dallas Fort Worth (Texas) and Charlotte Douglas (North Carolina) reported over 1,200 flight cancellations combined.
• FlightAware recorded more than 3,000 cancellations across the U.S. on Friday.
Broader Storm Consequences
• Earlier in the week, a winter storm left five dead and caused widespread disruptions in central and eastern U.S.
• Temperatures plunged below -18°C (-0°F), leaving tens of thousands without power.
