DENVER – More than a dozen flights destined for Denver International Airport (search) were diverted to other cities Wednesday night after a quick-moving thunderstorm pounded the airport with hail.
United Airlines expected delays and cancelations through Thursday afternoon after diverting 16 flights, airline spokeswoman Andrea Arroyo said. Eleven flights landed in Colorado Springs (search), five flights were sent to Pueblo and one flight landed in Grand Junction.
An American Airlines flight was delayed three hours after landing in Colorado Springs, spokesman Billy Sanez said.
Lightning prompted several airlines to pull flight crews off the runways at the peak of the storm, airport spokesman Chuck Cannon said.
Windshields were shattered by grapefruit-sized hail in Washington County in the northeast corner of the state, but no injuries were immediately reported, according to the National Weather Service (search).
Sheets of hail fell briefly in downtown Denver, sending pedestrians running for building awnings and setting off car alarms.
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