'I'm ready to go home': Travelers stranded after winter storm cancels thousands of flights скачать в хорошем качестве

'I'm ready to go home': Travelers stranded after winter storm cancels thousands of flights

A powerful winter storm has thrown U.S. air travel into turmoil, turning routine trips into logistical nightmares for many passengers. These disruptions have rippled far beyond major cities, affecting airports of all sizes as crews work to restore operations. Nationwide delays became a local reality at Abilene Regional Airport for travelers caught in the midst of cancellations and reduced services. Director of Transportation Services Don Green acknowledged that these cancellations have interfered with travel plans and personal schedules. "I'm sure it has disrupted a lot of schedules. A lot of people are trying to get to meetings, family events, and things like that," he said. "However, we did have a forecast several days ago that said this was coming." RELATED | Abilene residents rejoice as road conditions improve, allowing gym visits to resume The winter storm forced thousands of flight cancellations across the country, including more than a dozen at Abilene Regional Airport. "I'd say we've seen about 16 or 17 flight cancellations since Saturday," Green said. "On Saturday we had no flights, which was four departures and four arrivals. So, that would have been a total of eight flights. Then, on Sunday there were no flights either." By Monday, the airport's first post-storm flight took off at roughly 2 p.m. after hours of delays. As operations gradually returned to normal, questions remained about how the airport has balanced service with passenger safety. KTXS asked, "How did Abilene Regional Airport prioritize passenger safety as conditions worsened?" Green outlined the precautions taken to keep passengers safe amid hazardous conditions. "So, we absolutely prioritize passenger safety every day. In a challenging environment like we had, we don't open the runway until my assistant director and I are confident that it is safe," Green said. "That's what we did yesterday. We go above and beyond to make sure that the runway is clear of any patches of ice, so that the aircraft can land and take off safely." What started as widespread schedule disruptions for many Americans evolved into a significant challenge for travelers like Kaytlin Cochran, who was left stranded far from her Alabama home during a wedding shopping trip in Abilene. "I was here yesterday. I was ready to get on the flight and they just canceled it. I had to find a Lyft, a motel room, and all kinds of stuff," Cochran said. "I was excited to see snow though. We don't get to see it that often. I was coming here for some wedding dress shopping, but I got frustrated when we couldn't go anywhere. I'm ready to go home." Travelers are encouraged to track their flights closely as disruptions continue across the country. DETAILS: https://ktxs.com/news/local/im-ready-... Follow us on other social media: KTXS News on Facebook   / ktxstelevision   KTXS News on X https://x.com/KTXS_News KTXS News on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/ktxsnews/?h... For more information, visit https://ktxs.com/ Have a news tip? Send it to us at news@ktxs.com #airplane #airport #stranded