Atlanta Airport Demolishes Old Air Traffic Control Tower

With a blast that could be heard in downtown offices nine miles away, the old air traffic control tower at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport was demolished on Saturday (August 5).

The old tower was destroyed because it's no longer needed.

The Federal Aviation Administration built a new $44.2 million tower next to the original control tower.

The demolition created a giant plume of smoke that also could be seen from miles away.

Standing at 398 feet tall, the new tower is the tallest in North America and the third tallest in the world.

It was built to allow FAA controllers to be able to see the new fifth runway and the rest of the airport.

The new 9,000-foot runway opened May 27.