The deadly winter storm that struck much of the United States this past Sunday left over one million people without power, at least 25 people lost their lives, and nearly 20,000 flights were cancelled, according to NPR. In the wake of this winter crisis, the Department of Transportation (DOT) expects to see flight traffic return to normal before the end of the week.

There were over 5,000 flights delayed on Sunday in addition to the many cancellations, and Monday saw over 4,500 flights cancelled with nearly 2,500 delays, according to WNEP. More than 2.5 feet (76 cm) of snow fell this weekend, with over a dozen US statesin the Eastern half of the nation, across the Mississippi River, experiencing at least one foot of snow.

The Wrath Of Winter Storm Fern

The enormous scale of the cancellations was the single most disruptive air travel incident since the COVID-19 pandemic. On March 30, 2020, nearly half of all scheduled departures in the United States were cancelled. By comparison, this past weekend saw American Airlines forced to cancel around 25% of its schedule departures, while JetBlue nearly cancelled half of its itineraries on Monday.

While there were no emergencies reported involving commercial aircraft mishaps, a private flight operating a Bombardier Challenger 650 crashed at Bangor International Airport (BGR) in Maine on Sunday. The aircraft was carrying between 9 and 11 passengers. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) posted on X that it will be investigating alongside the National Transportation Safety Bureau (NTSB). Bangor Airport police Sergeant Jeremy Brock stated that while the investigation is ongoing, it is believed that all souls aboard were lost in the incident.

“According to the flight manifest there were six people on the flight. No one from the incident was transported to the hospital, and all on the flight are presumed to be deceased.”

Whiteout Weather Triggers Power Blackouts

Ice, sleet, and snow impacted US citizens as far west as New Mexico. The majority of power outages spanned from East Texas across the ‘Sunbelt’ to Louisiana, Mississippi, Tennessee, Kentucky, Virginia, and even Georgia. There is still heavy snow falling in the Northeast, with the National Weather Service (NWS) warning that frigid temperatures will continue to persist in more than half of the states on the East Coast this week.

There were no reports of major airports suffering a power outage, likely due to the redundancy of the extremely resilient systems built to withstand the harshest weather events. Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) was effectively closed on Sunday, even though the lights were on, as all departing flights were cancelled due to the weather. LaGuardia Airport (LGA) grounded around 90% of its scheduled flights, while Baltimore Washington International (BWI) experienced a similar cancellation rate as did Raleigh-Durham International (RDU).

Many customers have had their power restored since the peak of the storm, but not all have been able to receive assistance yet. Many of the states severely affected by the heavy winter downfall do not normally experience this kind of precipitation and do not have readily available infrastructure or equipment and teams to respond rapidly. At the same time, even states where winter is normally harsh are taking every precaution, such as in Massachusetts, which has seen 20 inches of snow.

Sleet And Snow Ground America

Flying in severe winter weather presents several life-threatening technical and operational hazards. Ice or frost on wings and tail surfaces disrupts smooth airflow, decreasing lift and increasing drag. Even small amounts of frost can prevent an aircraft from becoming airborne at normal speeds or cause a stall shortly after takeoff.

Heavy snowfall, freezing fog, and blowing snow can reduce visibility below 1,000 meters, making it difficult for pilots to see runways, signage, or other visual references during takeoff and landing. Ice and snow on runways significantly reduce traction. This creates risks of skidding off the runway, increases rollout distances, and makes steering effectively during taxiing difficult, which is believed to be the cause of the crash at BGR.

Airlines and airports employ several strategies to manage winter weather, though they are often overwhelmed by storms of this magnitude. Major hubs activate Emergency Operations Centers to coordinate snow removal and equipment sharing. To reduce terminal congestion, major carriers waived change and cancellation fees, encouraging passengers to rebook for later dates.

Aircraft must be clear of all snow, ice, or frost before takeoff. De-icing teams use heated fluids to remove contaminants, but this process is time-sensitive. If a plane cannot take off within approximately 15 minutes of de-icing, it must undergo the procedure again. At many airports, the rate of snowfall and icing exceeded the capacity of ground crews. When de-icing takes longer than the holdover time, flights simply cannot depart safely.