The luggage pile-ups at Philadelphia International Airport were caused by flight delays and cancellations due to weather issues and staffing problems. Lightning in the area on Sunday evening might have also contributed to the disruptions, as it could have paused activity on the airfield, including the loading and unloading of baggage.
American Airlines flights were repeatedly delayed or cancelled due to weather issues, such as lightning in the area, which caused disruptions in the airline's operations and affected the loading and unloading of baggage. The airline has not provided further details on the cause of the delays.
Passengers at Philadelphia International Airport experienced delays lasting several hours, with some flights being repeatedly delayed or cancelled. The exact duration of the delays varied for each flight, but one traveler reported waiting for two hours on the tarmac and an additional 50 minutes before being let out of the plane.