A Federal Aviation Administration spokeswoman said the Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport tower was briefly evacuated, but workers were heading back inside.
FAA spokeswoman Kathleen Bergen said the workers were evacuated at 8:49 p.m. Thursday after a smoky odor was detected in the tower during a thunderstorm.
Nearly 16 flights were diverted to Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport after a lightning strike at an Atlanta airport tower tonight, a spokeswoman for the Birmingham airport said.
Just before 10 p.m., Toni Herrera-Bast said the last of the diverted flights were preparing to take off.
"We still have a few on ground getting fueled to go to their destinations," she said.