Delta Air Lines faced substantial operational challenges on Friday, June 27, 2025, following a severe hailstorm that struck Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL), one of the world’s busiest airports and the primary hub for Delta’s extensive flight operations.
The storm, which developed in the evening hours, brought a combination of quarter-inch hail, powerful winds, lightning, and torrential rainfall, all of which severely disrupted the airline’s services.
ATL, which sees roughly 900 Delta flights per day, experienced significant chaos, especially as the storm intensified, affecting everything from flight schedules to aircraft safety checks.
The storm that hit Atlanta was no ordinary weather event. Severe thunderstorms rolled into the region around late afternoon, quickly escalating into a dangerous situation. Hail, which ranged in size from small pellets to larger chunks, bombarded the airport grounds, damaging aircraft and infrastructure. The storm’s winds also caused significant turbulence in the area, with gusts approaching 50 mph. As a result, Delta was forced to halt operations temporarily, and the FAA issued a ground stop for all arrivals and departures at ATL.
In addition to the flight disruptions, the storm created additional challenges at ATL’s air traffic control tower. Due to the hazardous wind conditions, the FAA evacuated most personnel from the tower, leaving a limited number of controllers on duty to manage inbound flights. This temporary loss of control tower operations added another layer of complexity to Delta’s recovery efforts.
As if that wasn’t enough, the FAA also issued a flash flood warning, and significant rainfall resulted in road closures around the airport. At one point, a section of Interstate 75, which runs near ATL, was closed due to flooding. These conditions not only hampered the movement of passengers but also made it difficult for ground crew and aircraft to reposition safely. Delta staff scrambled to ensure that affected flights and ground operations were attended to quickly, but the extensive damage caused by the storm significantly disrupted their ability to return to normal operations.
In the aftermath of the storm, Delta Air Lines took immediate action to assess the potential damage to its fleet. The airline grounded more than 100 aircraft at ATL for thorough safety inspections. This included checking for hail damage on aircraft surfaces, especially the fuselage and other critical components. While the majority of planes were quickly cleared for service, the safety inspections were a critical part of Delta’s commitment to ensuring the wellbeing of its passengers.
In response to the storm’s impact, Delta Air Lines grounded over 100 aircraft for inspection to assess potential hail damage. Technicians worked through the night, completing the necessary checks by Saturday morning. The airline reported that nearly all affected planes returned to service promptly. However, the inspections contributed to ongoing delays and cancellations as flight crews underwent mandatory rest periods and aircraft rotations were restored.
The severe weather led to significant flight disruptions, including the cancellation of over 380 Delta flights on Saturday. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) imposed a ground stop at ATL from 7:11 to 8:30 p.m. on Friday, halting all arrivals and departures. In addition, the FAA evacuated most personnel from the airport’s air traffic control tower due to strong winds, leaving only a few controllers to manage inbound flights. Flash flooding, caused by nearly an inch of rain in just one hour, resulted in road closures, including a stretch of Interstate 75 east of the airport.
As of Sunday, June 29, Delta reported a significant reduction in cancellations, with only 56 mainline flights canceled compared to 581 on Saturday.
The airline’s operations are gradually returning to normal, but passengers are advised to monitor their flight statuses and allow extra time for travel due to potential residual delays.
This incident underscores the vulnerability of major airports and airlines to severe weather events and highlights the importance of robust contingency planning and communication strategies to manage such disruptions effectively.
Image: Delta Air Lines
