Wind, Hail Damage Planes Over Weekend

Forget flying; the weather over the weekend was so bad in places that just being parked was hazardous to a plane's health -- and we're talking INSIDE hangars!

Several airports report damage to aircraft from both wind and hail, part of massive thunderstorms that blew across the Midwest this weekend. Perhaps nowhere was that damage as bad, though, as it was at Charles B. Wheeler Kansas City Downtown Airport.

The Wichita Eagle reports several aircraft tied down on the ramp were spun about and seriously damaged. Other aircraft parked in hangars were bounced around, many becoming casualties of the storm.

The damage wasn't limited to MKC, though. At nearby Kansas City International, a cargo container was thrown from the ramp into a stand of nearby vehicles. (Despite the strong storms, only one scheduled Southwest Airlines flight was delayed.)

Some parts of the Midwest reported softball-sized hail, which also wreaked havoc on aviation assets throughout the region.

It could be days before we get a full assessment of the damage. In all, the storm cut through parts of Kansas, Missouri and Illinois, leaving behind at least ten dead and scores injured.

FMI: www.duats.com