American Airlines has suspended all flights at the DFW International Airport due to Tuesday’s tornadoes and heavy storms, stranding passengers at the Northwest Arkansas Regional Airport (XNA) and Fort Smith Regional Airport.
CNN reports more than 110 aircraft at Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport sustained hail damage. Airlines canceled 400 departures, and diverted 40 incoming flights to other airports because of the storm, officials said.
Ed Martelle with American Airlines says crews are inspecting 68 American Airline planes and 33 American Eagle planes for damage. No word on if those planes are among the damaged.
“I wish the airlines could actually control the weather, but they can’t,” said Stephen Imholte, a passenger.
Imholte lives in Minnesota. He was supposed to fly home by way of Dallas. The airline cancelled his flights. He said, “We got a big group and so that makes it a little more complicated because you all want to stay together.”
A plane from Ohio in route to Dallas was also forced to land at XNA in Benton County because of the storms. “Well we just have to adjust and do the best we can,” said Howard Heffington, a passenger.
Travelers frustrated by the situation have to spend the night in hotels or with friends and family. “We’re leaving in about five minutes,” said an XNA traveler, “A friend of ours I picking us up, staying here in Bentonville until tomorrow morning.”
Some passengers were able to get on flights that will leave Wednesday morning.
Martelle says they hope to start resuming normal schedules Wednesday, but that depends on the extent of damage they find.
Stay with 5NEWSonline.com for updates or check your flights online:
http://www.nwara.com/
http://www.fortsmithairport.com/
http://www.dfwairport.com/