More than 400 flights to and from Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport have been canceled due flash flooding and tower evacuation.
According to the National Weather Service in Atlanta, a prolonged line of storms brought torrential rain to much of the region on Friday night. The downpour led to significant flash flooding in areas near the airport, as well as neighborhoods such as Grant Park, College Park, and Forest Park.
Thunderstorms are expected to continue throughout the weekend, especially during the afternoon and evening hours, the weather service said.
Friday, 1,790 flights had been canceled according to FlightAware.com. Many affected flights were operated by Delta Air Lines, which is headquartered at the airport.
“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 evacuated the airport’s control tower due to high winds, leaving only a few controllers behind to manage inbound flights, the agency confirmed Saturday morning.
Delta expects more delays and cancellations on Saturday as it works to reposition aircraft and ensure crew members receive required rest. The airline operates over 900 flights daily from Atlanta’s airport.
