Key Takeaways
• June 27, 2025 hailstorm caused Delta to inspect 100 planes at Atlanta’s busiest airport.
• Over 380 Delta flights canceled, 1,000+ delayed, with FAA imposing ground stop.
• Partial control tower evacuation ensured safety amid powerful hail and microburst winds.
On the evening of June 27, 2025, a severe thunderstorm swept through Atlanta, Georgia, bringing quarter-inch hail and powerful microburst winds. This sudden weather event struck Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, the busiest airport in the United States 🇺🇸 and the main hub for Delta Air Lines. The storm forced Delta Air Lines to pull about 100 planes from service for urgent hail damage inspections, causing widespread delays, cancellations, and diversions that rippled through the airline’s network and disrupted travel plans for thousands of passengers.
What Happened: The Storm and Its Immediate Impact
Who: Delta Air Lines, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, and thousands of travelers.
What: A severe thunderstorm with hail and strong winds caused Delta to inspect about 100 aircraft for hail damage, leading to over 380 flight cancellations and more than 1,000 delays.
When: Friday evening, June 27, 2025, with disruptions continuing into Saturday, June 28.
Where: Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, Atlanta, Georgia.
Why: Safety protocols require that any aircraft exposed to hail must be inspected for possible damage before returning to service.
How: Delta’s maintenance teams worked overnight to inspect the planes, while the FAA imposed a ground stop and partially evacuated the control tower for safety.
The Scale of Disruption: Flights, Delays, and Cancellations
The storm’s effects were felt immediately and widely:
- About 100 Delta Air Lines aircraft were pulled from service for hail damage inspection.
- Over 90 Delta flights were diverted to other airports in the Southeast.
- More than 380 Delta flights were canceled on Saturday, June 28, with nearly 400 total cancellations at the airport.
- Over 1,000 delays and more than 170 cancellations occurred by Friday evening alone.
These numbers highlight just how much a single weather event can disrupt air travel, especially at a major hub like Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport.
Safety First: The Aircraft Hail Damage Inspection Process
When hail strikes an airport, safety comes first. Aircraft exposed to hail, whether parked at the gate or taxiing on the runway, must be checked for damage before they can fly again. Here’s how the process works:
- Storm Event: Planes are exposed to hail during the storm.
- Immediate Grounding: All affected aircraft are pulled from service and cannot fly until cleared.
- Visual and Instrumental Inspection: Maintenance teams carefully check the outside of the plane (fuselage), wings, engines, and windshields for dents, cracks, or other damage. They use both their eyes and special tools to find even small problems.
- Documentation: Any findings are written down and reported to both the airline and the FAA.
- Repair or Clearance: If damage is found, the plane is fixed before it can fly. If no damage is found, the plane is cleared to return to service.
- Operational Reset: Planes and crews are moved as needed, and flight schedules are updated.
This process is required by the FAA and airline safety rules. Even small hail can cause dents or cracks that could become dangerous if not fixed. According to analysis by VisaVerge.com, these inspections are standard practice in the industry and are key to keeping passengers safe.
The FAA’s Response: Ground Stop and Control Tower Evacuation
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) played a critical role during the storm. As the winds picked up and hail began to fall, the FAA imposed a ground stop at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport from 7:11 to 8:30 p.m. This meant that no planes could take off or land during that time. The control tower, which manages all flights in and out of the airport, was partially evacuated due to the strong winds. Only two or three controllers stayed behind to handle inbound aircraft and keep communication open.
A spokesperson for the FAA explained, “Air traffic controllers have returned to the Atlanta control tower after the FAA evacuated most personnel due to strong winds. A few controllers remained in the facility to handle inbound aircraft.” This quick action helped keep everyone safe during the worst of the storm.
Delta’s Response: Rapid Inspections and Recovery
Delta Air Lines moved quickly to inspect its fleet and get planes back in the air. Maintenance teams worked through the night, checking each of the 100 affected planes for hail damage. By Saturday morning, “nearly all” of the inspected aircraft had been cleared and returned to service. However, the effects of the storm continued to be felt, with delays and cancellations stretching into the weekend.
A Delta spokesperson said, “Delta people are working as safely and quickly as possible to recover flights impacted by thunderstorms, lightning, hail and winds at our Atlanta hub Friday night. We thank our customers for their continued patience and understanding.”
The Human Impact: Passengers and Travel Plans
For travelers, the storm was a major headache. Thousands of people faced long delays, missed connections, and canceled flights. Many Delta flights were diverted to other airports, leaving passengers stranded far from their original destinations. The timing was especially tough, coming just before the busy Fourth of July holiday period, when many families travel for vacations or to visit loved ones.
Passengers were advised to check the FAA’s airspace status page and Delta’s flight status page for real-time updates. Delta also encouraged travelers to contact customer service for help with rebooking or finding alternate flights.
Operational Challenges: Crew and Aircraft Repositioning
Even after the planes were inspected and cleared, Delta faced more challenges. Flight crews have strict rules about how many hours they can work before they must rest. After a night of delays and diversions, many crews needed to take mandatory rest breaks, which meant some flights could not operate until new crews were available.
Additionally, planes and crews were scattered across the Southeast due to the diversions. Getting everyone back to the right place took time, leading to more delays and cancellations as the airline worked to reset its operations.
Why Hail Damage Matters: Aviation Safety Explained
Hail may seem like a minor problem, but for airplanes, it can be serious. Aviation safety experts explain that hail can cause:
- Dents in the fuselage: These can weaken the structure of the plane.
- Cracked windshields: Pilots need clear, undamaged windshields to fly safely.
- Damage to control surfaces: These are the moving parts on the wings and tail that help the plane turn and climb.
Even small dents or cracks can become bigger problems if not fixed. That’s why airlines like Delta Air Lines and the FAA require immediate inspections after hailstorms. The safety of passengers and crew always comes first.
Multiple Perspectives: How Stakeholders Responded
Delta Air Lines
Delta focused on safety and getting operations back to normal as quickly as possible. The airline balanced the need to inspect planes thoroughly with the goal of minimizing delays for passengers.
FAA
The FAA’s main concern was safety. By imposing a ground stop and evacuating the control tower, the agency showed that it will always put safety ahead of keeping flights on schedule.
Passengers
Travelers faced frustration and inconvenience, but most understood that safety comes first. Many appreciated the updates from Delta and the FAA, even if the news was not always good.
Airport Operations
Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport staff managed not only the airside challenges but also flooding and traffic disruptions on the ground. The airport’s size and importance made the situation even more complex.
Historical Context: Weather and Atlanta’s Busy Hub
Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport is the world’s busiest airport by passenger numbers. Delta Air Lines operates more than 900 flights a day from Atlanta, making it a critical hub for both domestic and international travel.
Severe weather is not new to Atlanta. Thunderstorms, heavy rain, and hail can disrupt operations several times a year. However, the scale of this event—requiring the inspection of 100 aircraft and the partial evacuation of the control tower—was unusual, even for this busy airport.
Delta has faced similar challenges before. In 2023, a Delta 767-300 suffered extensive hail damage in Europe, showing that severe weather is a constant risk for airlines around the world.
The Numbers: Key Facts and Figures
Here’s a summary of the key numbers from the June 27, 2025, storm:
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Event Date | June 27, 2025 |
| Aircraft Inspected | ~100 Delta planes |
| Flights Diverted | 90+ Delta flights |
| Cancellations | 380+ Delta, nearly 400 total at ATL (June 28) |
| Delays | 1,000+ (June 27) |
| FAA Ground Stop | 7:11–8:30 p.m. (June 27) |
| Control Tower Status | Partial evacuation, 2–3 controllers remained |
| Aircraft Status | Nearly all returned to service by June 28 |
What’s Next: Short-Term and Long-Term Outlook
Short-Term
Delta expects that delays and cancellations may continue as the airline works to get planes and crews back in place. Passengers are encouraged to check their flight status often and be ready for possible changes to their travel plans.
Long-Term
This event may lead Delta Air Lines and Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport to review their severe weather procedures. They may look for ways to make inspections and recovery even faster, or to improve communication with passengers during major disruptions.
No immediate policy changes have been announced, but the incident is a reminder of how important it is for airlines and airports to have strong plans for dealing with extreme weather.
Practical Guidance for Travelers
If you’re traveling through Atlanta or with Delta Air Lines after a major storm, here are some steps you can take:
- Check your flight status regularly on Delta’s official flight status page.
- Sign up for alerts from Delta and the airport to get real-time updates.
- Contact Delta customer service at 1-800-221-1212 if your flight is delayed or canceled.
- Be patient and flexible—airlines and airports work hard to recover from disruptions, but safety always comes first.
For official updates on airspace and airport status, you can visit the FAA’s Airspace Status page.
Lessons Learned: The Importance of Safety and Preparedness
The June 27, 2025, hailstorm at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport showed how quickly severe weather can disrupt air travel, even at the nation’s busiest airport. Delta Air Lines’ rapid response—pulling 100 planes for inspection and working overnight to clear them—helped minimize the long-term impact. The FAA’s decision to impose a ground stop and evacuate the control tower put safety first, even as it caused delays.
For passengers, the experience was frustrating but also a reminder that safety is the top priority. As reported by VisaVerge.com, these kinds of disruptions are rare but not unheard of, and airlines have detailed plans in place to handle them.
Conclusion: Moving Forward After the Storm
The hailstorm that hit Atlanta on June 27, 2025, was a major test for Delta Air Lines, the FAA, and Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. By following strict safety protocols and working quickly to inspect and clear aircraft, Delta was able to get most planes back in the air within hours. However, the effects of the storm—delays, cancellations, and disrupted travel plans—continued to be felt for days.
This event highlights the importance of strong safety procedures, clear communication, and flexible planning in the face of severe weather. For travelers, it’s a reminder to stay informed, be patient, and trust that airlines and airports are working hard to keep everyone safe.
For more information about airport operations and travel updates, visit the official Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport website.
Learn Today
Hail Damage → Physical dents or cracks on aircraft surfaces caused by frozen precipitation impacting safety.
Ground Stop → FAA order preventing aircraft from taking off or landing during a safety-related event.
Microburst Winds → Intense, localized downdraft winds associated with thunderstorms causing sudden strong surface winds.
Control Tower Evacuation → Partial or full removal of air traffic controllers from the tower due to safety hazards.
Aircraft Inspection → Thorough visual and instrumental check of a plane for damage before flying again.
This Article in a Nutshell
A severe hailstorm on June 27, 2025, disrupted Delta Air Lines at Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson Airport. Rapid inspections grounded 100 planes, causing hundreds of cancellations and delays. The FAA imposed a ground stop and evacuated the control tower partially for safety, demonstrating the impact of extreme weather on air travel.
— By VisaVerge.com
