Thousands of travelers are stranded at South Florida airports due to a combination of factors, including severe weather, spring break crowds and a government shutdown-related staffing shortage, which have disrupted travel plans.
It appears that the delay could extend until Thursday March 19, or even longer.
At Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport, there was a chaotic scene with hundreds of frustrated travelers.
The chaos is mainly due to deadly tornadoes that hit the South and blizzards in the Midwest. Given the extreme weather conditions, nearly 4,800 flights were canceled nationwide on Monday March 16 alone.
However, weather is not the only factor. A partial government shutdown caused TSA agents (working without pay) to call in sick in droves, with some airports seeing absenteeism rates rise from 2% to more than 21%.
Acting Deputy TSA Administrator Adam Stahl warned that if the situation persists, “it is not an exaggeration to suggest that we may be forced to literally close airports.”
As of Tuesday evening, FLL had recorded 103 cancellations and 384 delays, while Miami International Airport had recorded 49 cancellations and 429 delays.
For people like Alajah Buchanan, stuck at the airport since March 16, the delay seems endless.
Travelers are advised to contact their airline before traveling to the airport, as the situation may cause long delays.
