Thousands of Flights Delayed, Hundreds Canceled as Winter...

By Hollie Silverman

Deputy Weekend Editor

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Thousands of flights were delayed and hundreds canceled across the country as a powerful winter storm swept through major travel hubs, stranding travelers and causing significant disruption following the Thanksgiving holiday.

Airports in Chicago, Texas, and across the Southeast reported cascading delays and closures amid heavy snow, ice, and frigid temperatures. The holiday travel season compounded the fallout, leaving airlines and passengers scrambling as officials warned of continued impacts

At least 900 flights were cancelled, with nearly 15,000 delayed nationwide on Sunday, according to Flightaware.com.

In Iowa, the Des Moines Airport closed to all runway traffic after a Delta Air Lines plane slid off the runway.

Newsweek reached out to Chicago's O'Hare International Airport as well as the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) by email Sunday for comment.

Why It Matters

Extensive flight delays and cancellations due to weather impacts underscore the vulnerability of transportation infrastructure, particularly during the busy holiday travel period.

Airlines, airport authorities, and federal agencies faced the challenge of maintaining safe operations while managing record traveler volumes.

As ripple effects extended to rail and road travel, the incident highlighted broader systemic challenges Americans face while traveling.

...

What To Know

A fierce winter storm brought snow, ice, and freezing temperatures to broad swathes of the country, with particularly severe disruptions reported at key airports.

In Chicago, O'Hare International Airport—one of the nation's busiest—saw multiple ground delays, a ground stop and over 1,300 cancellations within a 24-hour period, according to Flightaware.com.

The National Weather Service (NWS) reported that Saturday was the snowiest November day ever recorded in Chicago, with some areas of the city seeing 8 inches of snow.

Winter weather also stopped up travelers at Detroit Wayne County Airport and Minneapolis-St Paul International Airport, with both seeing over 80 cancellations within a 24-hour period.

Des Moines Airport is also experiencing issues due to the storm, with a runway shut down by the FAA until 3:30 p.m. ET on Sunday following an incident where a Delta Air Lines plane slid off the runway. Officials said that no one was injured in the incident.

Roadways were also a mess amid the winter storm, as over 40 vehicles crashed in an incident on an Indiana roadway outside Terre Haute on Saturday.

What People Are Saying

Des Moines Airport spokesperson Sarah Hoodjer said Sunday: "The aircraft remains on pavement at this time and will be moved once it is formally released by the National Transportation Safety Board."

The National Weather Service (NWS) said in an advisory on Sunday: "An active, winter-like pattern will continue over the next couple days featuring winter storms bringing impactful winter weather and chilly temperatures for much of the country."

What Happens Next?

Airports affected by the storm are expected to resume operations as weather conditions improve.

The NWS says more wintry weather and precipitation will spread to the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast in the coming days as a cold front tracks further south.

Airlines and airport authorities continue to advise passengers to check for real-time updates, anticipate potential lingering delays, and remain prepared for schedule changes as equipment is repositioned and normal traffic resumes.

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