PAULDING COUNTY, Ga.,None — The Paulding Northwest Atlanta Airport has been closed indefinitely in light of extensive damage from Friday night’s severe storms. Channel 2's Tom Regan has learned that millions of dollars in damage resulted from the storm's powerful impact.
Regan was the first reporter to get an up-close look at the Dallas-based airport, approximately 40 miles west of Atlanta. At a news conference Saturday morning, airport official Blake Swafford said 19 of 23 planes were totaled, including a citation jet worth $1.2 million.
Swafford, who said he does not know how long it will take to reopen the airport, reported a $5 million-loss in aircraft damage. A hangar, terminal, fences and lamp posts were among the $2 million-loss in facility damage.
While Regan was there, a woman arrived to take pictures of the damage. Her plane was among about a dozen planes damaged when storms rolled through around 8:30 p.m.
Sheet metal and other debris was scattered across the half-mile area around the airport.
Some of the planes were turned upside down on the tarmac. Others had parts sticking out of a tattered hangar. A jet was wrapped in the exposed steel beams of the hangar.
In addition to a fuel spill, the main terminal also sustained damage to the roof, but county officials said they were just relieved no one was hurt.
"Fortunately, no one was here. There were no injuries reported throughout the county and we're really thankful for that," Paulding County Sheriff's Office Cpl. Ashley Henson told Regan.
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