Nine American Airlines flights were left sitting on the tarmac for up to three hours after landing at Raleigh-Durham International Airport late on Monday, as a lightning storm passed through the area. Hundreds of passengers were trapped inside hot cabins with little information and no way to disembark, even as other carriers managed to let their passengers off, raising fresh questions about the airline's handling of the disruption.

American Airlines told broadcaster WRAL that the delays stemmed from Air Traffic Control restrictions, gate closures and a staffing shortage during the storm. The airport disputed this account, however, saying there were no gate closures during the storm and noting that each airline follows its own safety protocols. One passenger, Correy Schnupper, who had flown in from Philadelphia and spent more than three hours stuck on the tarmac, said he had already resolved never to fly with the carrier again and accused it of "hiding something"; after complaining, he was reportedly offered only a $50 voucher.