Delta Faces Over 1,000 Delays, 400+ Cancellations at Atlanta Amid Severe Storm

Severe storms on Friday night caused widespread disruptions at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, resulting in over 1,200 flight cancellations and delays, mostly affecting Delta Air Lines. The storm brought intense thunderstorms, high winds, and quarter-inch hail, prompting the temporary evacuation of the airport’s air traffic control tower and the grounding of numerous flights for safety inspections. Delta conducted extensive inspections on more than 100 planes damaged by hail, with efforts ongoing to restore normal operations. FlightAware data showed over 400 Delta flights canceled and around 500 delayed on Saturday alone, with total cancellations near 170 by Friday evening. The disruption at Atlanta, the world's busiest airport, echoed into the weekend, compounded by forecasts of continued afternoon storms. Delta apologized for the inconvenience and urged travelers to check their flight status through official channels as recovery efforts continue amid a busy travel period.