More than 17 000 flights have been cancelled in the USA since Wednesday, 21 December, as a winter storm causes Christmas travel havoc.
This is according to FlightAware, where a storm brought snow, ice strong winds and cold weather throughout the country, slowing down ground crews who faced severe conditions.
More than 200 million people in the country were under weather warnings on Saturday, Christmas Eve, as temperatures dropped to below -48°C.
The country’s cavitation industry was ‘operating under enormous strain according to Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) imposed delays and ground stops for de-icing at US airports because of winter weather.
‘Temperatures have fallen so low that our equipment and infrastructure have been impacted, from frozen lav systems and fuel hoses to broken tow bars,’ said United Airlines message to pilots on Saturday, according to NBC, ‘Pilots have encountered frozen locks when trying to re-enter the jet bridge after conducting walk arounds.’
Picture: Unsplash
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