( CNN ) -- Eppley Airfield in Omaha , Nebraska , was closed Thursday night , stranding hundreds of passengers , after being struck by two violent storms packing high winds and massive hail , the airport director said . Omaha Airport Authority Executive Director Steve Coufal said that the airfield had been closed for several hours , with at least one reported injury : a pilot who was taken to a local hospital after being struck by hail . Southwest Airlines spokesperson Ashley Dillon said two of the airline 's planes were on the ground -- one of them Flight 751 to Chicago , which was being boarded -- when the first storm hit . The decision was made to deplane the 137 passengers from the Boeing 737 , and a male pilot was struck by hail while standing in the jetway . Dillon said he was conscious when he was transported to the hospital . Southwest discontinued its flights for the remainder of the night . Dillon said 13 flights were affected : eight arrivals and five departures . The first storms came through Omaha at about 5:30 p.m. ( 6:30 p.m . ET ) . The airport was subsequently shut down so that airport officials could evaluate damage done to equipment . After about an hour-and-a-half , the airport was reopened , but was closed again minutes later when the second storm came through , packing very strong winds and heavy rains , Coufal said . CNN meteorologist Chad Myers said hailstones were reportedly up 2.75 inches in diameter , or approximately baseball-sized . Video footage from local CNN affiliate KPTM seemed to confirm that estimate , as the windshields of several cars in the airport parking lot were either shattered or bore large holes and craters . The airport director said winds of about 100 mph were reported , and visibility was 5-10 feet . Airport officials were inspecting damage and meeting with transportation officials Thursday night to address passengers ' needs . Coufal said seven commercial planes received some degree of damage , and parked surface vehicles had extensive damage . Also , the roof , some windows and signage were damaged at the facility . One jet bridge was blown into an aircraft by the winds , according to Coufal . CNN 's Marlena Baldacci contributed to this report .
Injured pilot was conscious when taken to the hospital , airline official says . Two storms strike Eppley Airfield in Omaha , packing high winds , hail and rain . Southwest Airlines discontinues all flights for the rest of the evening .