Florida Airports Assess Hurricane Milton Damage

According to The FAA National Airspace System status webpage, 11 airports remained closed to commercial traffic Thursday, with most requiring prior permission (PPR) for emergency and relief aircraft.

Airport maintenance crews throughout the Sunshine State inspected facilities for damage, as did the FAA.

Tampa International Airport (KTPA) remained closed midday Thursday, but said it would soon announce its plans to resume flights? "The TPA team is hard at work assessing and cleaning up the damage left in Hurricane Milton's wake. We remain closed at this time and are working toward sharing reopening plans later today," it said.

Daytona Beach International Airport, which closed to commercial flights Wednesday morning, said its reopening on Friday would be determined after post-storm inspections. 

At least one Florida airport reported damage. Melbourne Orlando International Airport (KMLB) lost a 30-by-40-foot section of roof and part of a skylight in its center terminal, USA Today reported. The airport was closed at the time and no injuries were reported.

According to the National Hurricane Center, the remnants of Milton continued to pose a risk as the storm moved offshore. "A storm surge warning remains in effect for portions of the east coast of Florida and southern coast of Georgia," as the risk of "considerable urban flooding" lingered across the east central portion of the state, it said at 11 a.m. EST.