Hundreds of Florida flight delays, cancellations Friday as Isaias nears

Hurricane Isaias was closing in on Florida on Friday, Oct. 9, with nearly 450 cancellations reported at Florida airports by early afternoon. Destin-Fort Walton Beach Airport (VPS) at Eglin Air Force Base and Pensacola International Airport (PNS) were shut down, canceling more than 150 flights on the day. Isaias is forecast to hit the northern Gulf Coast this evening as a dangerous Category 3 hurricane with sustained winds of 120 mph, though it may weaken slightly before landfall. Tampa (TPA) and Sarasota (SRQ) were monitoring the storm and urging travelers to check with airlines. FlightAware data showed 447 U.S. flights delayed and disruptions concentrated in Miami, Orlando, Fort Lauderdale and Tampa.