JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – At least six flights that were scheduled to land at the Jacksonville International Airport (JAX) Friday afternoon were diverted to different airports following a multi-vehicle fire that broke out in the hourly garage of JAX.
According to Flight Radar 24, some incoming flights were diverted to Savannah, Atlanta, St. Augustine and Panama City Beach airports.
In addition, approximately two dozen flights were delayed after the fire prompted the airport’s closure.
According to Michael Stewart with the Jacksonville Aviation Authority, there was structural damage to the parking garage. No injuries were reported.
Airport officials were seen bringing water to the dozens of people who were stranded in a grassy area after the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office blocked inbound and outbound access to the airport.
A woman told News4JAX she was waiting to board her flight when the fire broke out. She and her Uber driver were trying to navigate the road closures.
“My Uber driver was very nice, but we couldn’t make head of what was going on. We just got directed to go in a circle, he’s checking his GPS and all this sort of stuff and finally, we landed up in the cell phone lot,” she said.
Airport officials said around 2:30 p.m., the hourly garage remained closed, but other parking facilities were accessible.
Airport shuttle buses will take people to their vehicles, according to officials.
Officials said the airport was expected to open at 5 p.m.
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