Severe Weather Strands Thousands at Chicago Airports

Severe weather unleashes chaos across U.S. airports, stranding thousands of passengers as thunderstorms, snow, and ice trigger FAA ground stops at Chicago O’Hare and Midway. O’Hare bears the brunt with 272 cancellations and 1,187 delays, slashing its departure rate from 90-100 flights per hour to just 45-60 amid capacity strains and backlog. United Airlines and American Airlines scramble to rebook travelers, with ripple effects hitting hubs like Denver, Dallas-Fort Worth, and Orlando.