Live Breaking News & Updates on Passenger frustrations growing

the busiest times of the year. thousands of flights canceled. passenger frustrations growing, with major hubs like denver and chicago still battling brutal conditions. abc's elwyn lopez. >> reporter: the arctic blast sweeping the nation stranding passengers coast-to-coast on one of the busiest travel days of the year. an ice storm in seattle this morning eventually shutting down all their runways. >> we were on the plane getting ready to go. and they're like, no, this canceled. too much ice. >> reporter: across the country in buffalo where more than 3 feet of snow could fall, their airport closed today and not expected to reopen until christmas night. detroit seeing two-thirds of their flights canceled or delays. >> we keep getting updates every 20 minutes that it's delayed, delayed, delayed. >> reporter: lightnng striking a spirit flight forcing it to make an emergency landing. more than 5,000 flights canceled today. the second worst day this year.

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