Storms once again cause major disruptions at Philadelphia International Airport

PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) — It’s been a crazy couple of days for travelers who say they’ve endured delays and cancellations, just to make it to Philadelphia.

Baggage was piling up once again at Philadelphia International Airport on Monday morning, where frustrated passengers saw the weather disrupt their holiday travel.

“It’s very frustrating,” said Kimani McCarthy, from South Hill, Virginia.

Trying to get out of PHL has been nothing short of a nightmare for McCarthy, who should be in Europe.

“We were supposed to take off, I believe around 1:30 a.m. Our flight got delayed. I was asleep. I woke up and we’re getting off the plane,” he said.

But instead, his American Airlines flight was canceled after severe weather grounded operations, He’s spent the last 27 hours at the airport, without lodging or clothing while his luggage sits in Boston.

“My luggage is in two different places,” he said. “One’s with American and one’s with Delta. I’m not sure how that even happens.”

Severe weather that swept through Sunday evening led to nearly 400 delays and 180 cancelations at the airport.

It comes one week after similar problems for air travelers.

It also comes at an especially inopportune time: The TSA said it is preparing for the highest traveler volumes that the agency has ever seen this week for the July 4th holiday.

Many passengers were separated from their luggage, and some of them were told it would be at least a four-hour wait for their bags.

“We were informed maybe an hour into the waiting that the bags would be held up because of lightning, which of course is understandable, but then all communication sort of stopped hours ago,” said Keith Adams of New Castle, Delaware.

Passengers on American Airlines, the busiest carrier at PHL, felt the same frustrations as those who were separated from their luggage while stuck during storms exactly a week ago.

“I would hope that they would learn from their experience because now there’s a whole new set of frustrated people not knowing if they should go to bed or wait for their luggage,” said Eileen Hauser, who was traveling from San Diego, California.

Keith Brune, the chief operating officer of the city’s Department of Aviation, says severe weather during a busy travel season causes huge changes behind the scenes, especially if there’s lightning.

“If there’s lightning within 10 miles of the airport, no refueling can occur. If there’s lightning within five miles of the airport, for safety reasons, no one is allowed on the ramp. Then we have to wait 20 to 30 minutes after the last lightning strike within five miles before people can go back on the ramp,” Brune said.

“So if we have a 10 to 15-minute thunderstorm come through with lightning, that can have a really serious effect on air travel,” he continued.

Travelers who spoke with Action News said short staffing seemed to hinder several airlines’ ability to communicate with and help customers effectively.

“It was a disaster,” said Simone Millman, from Daytona Beach, Florida.

Jana Tidwell, with AAA, said travelers need to prepare for summer travel, just like they would in the winter.

“Keep an eye out for what’s coming this way and what will be ultimately at your destination weather-wise,” she said.

Airport officials continue to urge everyone to download the app for the airline you’re flying to keep track of any changes.

You can also check the status of your flight at PHL.org/Flights.

Action News has reached out to both Delta and American Airlines.

American Airlines responded, stating that Sunday’s storms caused delays and cancellations at PHL, as well as extended ramp closures due to lightning.

In total, delays lasted approximately four hours, the statement said.

Airline officials also stated that its team is working around the clock to reposition aircraft and crews, as well as help customers who had their travel plans impacted.

In addition to this, officials said during the extended ramp closure, crews were unable to load or unload baggage from aircraft.

On Monday, the fully-staffed Baggage Service Office worked to reunite customers with their baggage. Representatives are said to be contacting customers when their bags are ready for pickup.

Anyone who cannot return to PHL to collect missing bags will have them delivered, the airline stated.

It also noted that American Airlines accounts for 60% of all air traffic at the airport.

Delta has yet to respond to Action News’ request for comment.