ROMULUS (WWJ) -- Passengers are scrambling to get to airport terminals after Detroit Metro Airport was essentially closed early Thursday, due to unprecedented flooding.
Water over roadways and through two tunnels approaching the airport completely blocked access to the McNamara Terminal for several hours, impacting flights and stranding hundreds of would-be passengers.
According to Delta Air Lines, dozens of flights were canceled. By 11 a.m., the number of flight delays and cancellations airport-wide was up to nearly 270.
Late in the morning, DTW noted that while the water was receding, some roadways at the airport remained closed.
By around 3:30 p.m. airport officials said access to the McNamara Terminal from Eureka Road via both the north and south Dingell Drive tunnels had been restored. Shortly before 5 p.m., DTW said that all area roads had reopened.
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Michigan State First Lt. Mike Shaw says troopers were on the job on the outskirts of airport property, helping to direct pedestrian traffic. "We got contacted by the airport police that the were asking for assistance, and everybody knows that both tunnels were flooded and people couldn't get out of the airport terminals," Shaw told WWJ's Taylor Dietz.
"So what was happening is a lot of people were actually trying to walk through the water, or walk to the different terminals, which was causing even some more safety issues for them."
WWJ's Mike Campbell snapped photos of a bizarre scene: Travelers who'd landed at DTW and walked off their flights "had to keep walking," he reported. Photos showed people dragging suitcases down Dingell Drive to Eureka Road to meet their rides.
As residual problems continue, customers with flights out DTW are encouraged to contact their airlines with any questions about their flight status, with more cancelations and delays possible as the day goes on. Customers are urged to monitor the Fly Delta App for updates.
"The sheer amount of rain in a short period of time is the primary driver for flooding at DTW," airport officials said, in a statement. "A pump station at the airport lost power early Thursday morning; however, it’s unclear how much of an impact this had on the flooding. The Airport Authority will continue working to identify and address the root cause. We appreciate the patience of our customers and employees throughout the day."
Meanwhile, Delta Air Lines said in a statement that it has been processing cancelations "due to operational need and to ensure everyone’s safety," adding, "We know this is an inconvenience to our customers and we apologize for the disruption to their travel plans.“
Among travelers affected was Josh Plona of Allen Park, who was supposed to catch an early flight to Boston. Instead, he and his buddies circled the airport, and eventually gave up.
"As close to the airport as we are, we know all the back entrances, and they are all close, they are all flooded," Plona said. "We ended up waiting on Eureka Road over by Merriman for about 45 minutes, just sitting there right by the entrance ramp to the airport. At this point, we're just sitting at my parents' house and waiting for fight information to be updated again."
Uber driver Seth was traveling southbound on Vining Road toward the airport with a disabled passenger in his car, when he got stuck.
"There's a pretty steep-sized puddle, but some cars were making it through," he told WWJ's Ryan Marshall. "Then all of a sudden a big semi came through and caused a huge wake, and then I just started floating a little bit, and the car died. And it's been here since about 6 a.m., and I'm still waiting on a tow truck."
Thursday morning, WWJ's KT reported that all lanes of north and southbound I-275 were closed at I-94 due to flooding, which left some drivers stranded on the roadways. Both Dingell Drive tunnels were closed for hours, denying access to the airport.
While most of the early closed roads have reopened, there's still a lot of standing water and disabled vehicles in the area, causing traffic backups. Drivers should use caution, and give themselves extra time if they're headed to the airport.
Meanwhile, I-275 at I-94 has been shut down in both directions for the entire day, as flood water covers the freeway. MSP is calling it a "Mother Nature" issue, as they wait for the water level of the nearby creeks to sink back into their banks before pumping it off the freeway.
As always, the public is reminded to never try to drive, walk, or swim through flood waters.
This remains a developing story. Stay tuned to WWJ Newsradio 950 for the latest road closure updates, and tell your Alexa or Echo to "play WWJ nine-fifty."
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