Storms Disrupt 10,000 US Flights

Severe storms sweeping across the United States disrupted air travel on Monday, delaying or canceling more than 10,000 flights as major airports along the East Coast and other regions faced dangerous weather conditions.

The Federal Aviation Administration ordered flight delays at key airports due to the risk of strong winds and intense thunderstorms. The affected hubs included LaGuardia and John F. Kennedy airports in New York, Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey, and Ronald Reagan National Airport in Washington, D.C., as well as Charlotte Douglas International Airport, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, and George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston.

US Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy stated that severe weather was significantly affecting flight operations across the country.

A major winter storm also disrupted air traffic in the Midwest and the Great Lakes region. Earlier in the day, the FAA temporarily issued ground stops at several airports, including Reagan National, Chicago O’Hare International Airport, and Charlotte Douglas International Airport, before lifting the restrictions later.

According to flight tracking website FlightAware, more than 6,500 flights within, into, or out of the United States were delayed, while over 3,500 flights were canceled by 1:30 p.m. Eastern Time.

The data showed that about one-third of flights operated by American Airlines, Southwest Airlines, and Delta Air Lines were either delayed or canceled. United Airlines reported disruptions affecting roughly 25 percent of its flights.

Airports experienced significant operational disruptions, with nearly 40 percent of flights affected in Atlanta, around one-third at Chicago O’Hare, and about 50 percent at LaGuardia Airport.

Meanwhile, the US government instructed federal employees in the Washington, D.C. area to leave their offices by 2:00 p.m. local time due to the hazardous weather conditions.