Register

South Florida Airport Ravaged by Hurricane Ian. An Accounting of the Damage

Hurricane Ian’s devastating impact on Florida and aviation has become apparent. The storm’s wrath was felt well outside its eyewall, as evidenced by the rash of severe weather—including at least one tornado—that ravaged part of Southeast Florida Tuesday night.

The calm before the storm. North Perry Airport in Broward County was hit by a tornado, devastating parts of the flight line. [Courtesy: broward.org]
Gemini Sparkle

Key Takeaways:

  • Hurricane Ian's outer bands caused a tornado in Southeast Florida, severely impacting North Perry Airport (KHWO) with damage to at least 30 general aviation aircraft and several hangars, leading to its closure.
  • After landfall, the hurricane inflicted substantial damage on Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport (SRQ), including a large section of its roof membrane detaching and multiple ceiling tiles falling in the terminal.
  • The storm's intensity was extreme, even challenging experienced NOAA Hurricane Hunter crews who described their flights into Ian as the roughest of their careers.
See a mistake? Contact us.

Hurricane Ian’s devastating impact on Florida and aviation has become apparent. The storm’s wrath was felt well outside its eyewall, as evidenced by the rash of severe weather—including at least one tornado—that ravaged part of Southeast Florida Tuesday night.

While the Miami-Fort Lauderdale area has been spared the very worst of Ian, the sprawling sub-tropical metropolis has nevertheless felt its strength in the form of intense rain bands spreading out for nearly 200 miles from the hurricane’s center.

Arturo Weiss

Arturo has a strong background in aviation and communications. As a graduate of Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, he has held key training and safety management roles at Airbus and the Experimental Aircraft Association. His training experience includes Aviation English program development for pilots, air traffic controllers, and flight attendants while also overseeing ground school training for a local flight academy. Outside his aviation work, Arturo is a certified communications facilitator providing business communication training to Fortune 500 companies, government agencies, and high-profile thought leaders in diverse industries.

Ready to Sell Your Aircraft?

List your airplane on AircraftForSale.com and reach qualified buyers.

List Your Aircraft
AircraftForSale Logo | FLYING Logo
Pilot in aircraft
Sign-up for newsletters & special offers!

Get the latest stories & special offers delivered directly to your inbox.

SUBSCRIBE