Bad Weather Strands Passengers At DFW Airport
FORT WORTH (CBSDFW.COM/AP) - Hundreds of passengers were forced to spend the night at DFW International Airport on Monday after severe weather led to dozens of flight delays. More delays are expected on Tuesday as well, with severe weather forecast to pass over North Texas for the second straight day.
The stranded travelers spent the night resting on benches, in chairs, on cots and on the floor. Some of those passengers had been at DFW International Airport since early in the afternoon, but most people seemed to be taking it in stride. After all, nobody can control the weather. "Everyone's pretty much taking it kind of easy," said stranded passenger Camille Phillips. "It's bad weather. We can't predict that. So, everyone's just on cots and waiting to get out of here."
Many passengers compared their flight troubles to the tornado devastation being felt in Joplin, Missouri – noting that delayed flights are little concern when so many others in our nation are suffering.
American Airlines canceled roughly 130 flights on Monday in order to repair hail damage on two airplanes and check for possible hail damage on 23 others. Of those planes being inspected, 16 have passed while the other seven will be checked out on Tuesday. Spokesperson Andrea Huguely said that the spring storms expected on Tuesday in North Texas, New York and Chicago will lead to additional cancellations nationwide.
More than 70 American Airlines flights out of DFW International Airport have already been canceled on Tuesday.
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Meanwhile, conditions outside of the airport are not much better. Severe storms caused damage to some parts of North Texas. Oncor electric crews have been working Monday night and Tuesday morning to restore power to more than 3,400 customers. About 200 homes and businesses are still without power.
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