Airlines cancel greater than 3,000 U.S. flights amid storm, Delta slide evacuation

Airlines canceled greater than 3,000 flights on Friday as a large winter storm snarled travel across the Southern U.S., while greater than 3,000 others were delayed.

Operations were further disrupted after a Delta Air Lines Boeing 757-300 halted takeoff at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, the world’s busiest and Delta’s major hub, and 201 passengers and 7 crew members were evacuated on emergency slides due to an engine issue.

The Federal Aviation Administration said it’s investigating the incident.

“Delta’s flight crew followed established procedures to suspend the takeoff of flight 2668 from Atlanta (ATL) to Minneapolis-St. Paul (MSP) after a sign of an engine issue,” Delta said. “Nothing is more necessary than the security of our people and customers, and we apologize to our customers for his or her experience. We’re working to support our customers and get them to their destinations as safely and quickly as possible.”

Greater than 1,000 flights to and from Atlanta, or about half of the day’s schedule, were canceled, while upward of 400 more were delayed, in keeping with flight tracker FlightAware. The airport had a ground stop in place, which halts flights sure for that airport at their origin so the power is not overwhelmed with planes.

Two of American Airlines‘ hubs of Dallas Fort Value International Airport and Charlotte Douglas International Airport were also heavily affected by the storm, with greater than 1,200 flights to and from those two airports canceled. Most of DFW’s flights were also canceled on Thursday because the storm dumped snow in the realm.

Delta, Southwest, American and other carriers waived change fees and fare differences due to the storms and severe weather.