Power restored at Portland Jetport after storm-induced outage halted flights, ground operations

A severe afternoon thunderstorm knocked out power to Portland International Jetport Thursday, forcing airport staff to manually evacuate passengers from aircraft and bus them to the terminal while crews worked to restore electricity.

Outage, operational response and passenger impact

Jetport officials said the facility experienced a complete power outage shortly before 3:30 p.m. The interruption came as a fast‑moving storm produced large hail and high winds in the Portland area, prompting the airport to activate its tarmac delay program and move passengers by shuttle from parked aircraft on the de‑ice pad to the terminal.

During the outage, airport officials reported that six flights were canceled and 34 flights were delayed. Several passengers were held on aircraft for extended periods before being transferred to buses. Officials said the airport and airline teams coordinated to ensure passengers were brought safely to the terminal despite the lack of electrical power.

“We appreciate the patience and understanding of the passengers on the delayed flights,” Assistant Airport Director Zach Sundquist said in a statement. “Our Tarmac Delay program was activated and our entire team responded to get passengers off of aircraft that could not access the terminal due to the power outage.”

Power restoration and utility response

Central Maine Power Co. crews prioritized the Jetport as an essential facility and worked to restore service. Officials said the airport had initial power about 8 p.m. and that full power was restored at 9:07 p.m.

In a statement before power was fully restored, Central Maine Power said crews were working to return service as quickly as possible and acknowledged the Jetport’s critical role for the region.

Weather damage and safety concerns

Maine’s Total Weather reported a wind gust of 69 miles per hour at the Jetport during the storm. The thunderstorm also produced significant hail — with reports of pea‑sized hail accumulating on the ground — and downed tree branches in the area around the airport.

• Power outage start: Shortly before 3:30 p.m.
• Initial power restored: About 8 p.m.
• Full power restored: 9:07 p.m.
• Flights canceled: 6
• Flights delayed: 34
• Highest recorded gust at Jetport: 69 mph

Airport mechanics were assessing damage to aircraft after the storm. Jetport officials reported that two aircraft sustained damage from the weather; mechanics were addressing the issues. Visual reports from the scene noted large accumulations of hail on ramp areas that briefly resembled small piles of snow.

Local consequences and what to expect

The outage disrupted late‑day travel for passengers departing from and arriving at the Jetport, and officials indicated that at least some of the canceled flights would affect departures into Thursday evening operations.

For Portland residents who rely on the Jetport for travel, the storm highlights two recurring vulnerabilities: the airport’s exposure to severe localized weather and the broader community impacts of utility interruptions. The coordination between the Jetport’s operations team and Central Maine Power helped prevent injuries and expedite restoration, but the incident underscores the importance of preparedness for travelers and airlines.

Passengers with questions about specific flights or property left on aircraft were advised to contact their airlines and check Jetport advisories for updates. The airport has not released a final accounting of downstream schedule impacts beyond the initial cancellations and delays reported during the outage.

Portland International Jetport is a primary transportation hub for southern Maine; disruptions there ripple through family travel, business schedules and freight movements. City officials and utility partners said they will review the incident to identify any lessons that could reduce the effects of similar storms in the future.