Terrified plane passengers receiving cell phone alerts of a possible tornado were trapped on the runway at Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport Monday night as violent storms tore through the area, video shows.
A wind gust of 75 mph was recorded in the Windy City and the National Weather Service in Chicago reported that several tornadoes may have passed through the airport, according to Fox Weather.
“We are seeing power flashes on both the O’Hare and Midway Airport webcams due to likely tornadoes and/or destructive wind gusts near those areas,” the agency announced about 9:40 p.m. Monday night. “Continue to take these warnings seriously!!”
Video recorded by passengers stuck on the tarmac shows lightning flashing across the sky in a heavy downpour, with winds strong enough to rock the plane back and forth.
“Our plane is sitting on the runway at Chicago O’Hare right now while everyone’s phones receive multiple tornado warnings,” tweeted Courtney Mares, a journalist for Catholic News Agency who took the video.
Daniel Amato, who had just boarded a flight at O’Hare to Columbia, Missouri, said he recorded a wild video of the weather from his seat “a little bit after the pilot said we had to stay put because they were evacuating the control tower.”
“Sat through it. It was crazy,” Amato posted.
“We could definitely feel it moving us,” traveler William Boggs, who was at O’Hare when the storm hit, told FOX Weather. “ATC (air traffic control) evacuated as we were trying to take off, so we got stuck out there.”
More than 60 flights were canceled and over 400 were delayed at O’Hare alone, according to flight tracking website FlightAware.
“If you’re in the airport, please exercise caution, and follow the instructions of all airport personnel,” O’Hare officials declared on Monday night. “Service on the Airport Transit System is suspended until the threat of severe weather has passed.”
A total of 16 Tornado Warnings were issued by the Chicago NWS office Monday – the third most in a single day, Fox Weather reported. Millions across three states were under tornado warnings.
NWS Chicago confirmed it may conduct damage surveys in as many as 29 locations.