PIERRE, S.D. (KCCR) – Some SkyWest passengers on their way to Denver got some unexpected layover time in Pierre after weather got in the way of their flight. Pierre Airport Manager Mike Issacs says thunderstorms moving through the Watertown area impacted the plane.

Issacs says the afternoon flight out of Pierre was rescheduled, but wasn’t sure how SkyWest was going to going to get the Watertown passengers on to Denver. He says the damaged plane will spend some extra time in Pierre.

The weather has been a stumbling block for air travel in the last few weeks and Issacs says the lightning strike doesn’t help that, but since SkyWest has taken over the Essential Air Service route between Watertown, Pierre and Denver, service has been excellent.

A SkyWest jet was seen departing from Pierre Regional Airport around 1:15 pm. The normal afternoon flight departure is just after 2:00 pm Central Time. The number of impacted passengers is not known.  No one on the plane was injured.