Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said there was a communications issue affecting the regional air traffic control centers that direct planes between airports nationwide.
By Jordan Parker,Aviation Reporter
The Federal Aviation Administration says airplane departures can resume after the agency lifted a nationwide ground stop caused by communications problems.
The FAA had grounded all flights nationwide Friday afternoon, causing hundreds of flights to be diverted. Officials cited “extraordinary circumstances” caused by communications problems at regional air traffic control centers. The nationwide ground stop was the first since January 2023, when a key FAA computer system malfunctioned, and the second since the aftermath of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks.
The ground stop has upended flight traffic at DFW Airport, the central hub of American Airlines and Dallas Love Field, the home base of Southwest Airlines.
The FAA said the communications problems impacted regional air traffic control centers. The agency notice said the ground stop was being imposed “due to extraordinary circumstances and for reasons of safety.”
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said there was a communications issue affecting the regional air traffic control centers that direct planes between airports nationwide. He said FAA technicians are investigating. Secretary of Homeland Security Markwayne Mullin said there was no indication yet that “this was a nefarious attack against us. It’s just a telecommunications outage.”
“Everybody’s safe. There’s no reason to be concerned about your loved ones if they’re flying,” Mullin said.
Journalists with The Dallas Morning News are at DFW Airport and Love Field, reporting on how the ground stop is impacting local travel. Follow along with our live updates.
8:25 p.m.: Operations resume at Love Field
By 8:20 p.m., airport operations appeared normal. People stood in check-in and security lines again. Southwest Airlines employees were checking bags. A Delta airline employee called out over an intercom a final boarding call for a flight to Atlanta. A screen displaying flights’ status throughout the airport showed two flights already boarded.
Three men in fluorescent “Airport Operations” vests walked toward the Southwest check-in area. One of them called out to another employee, “Back in business.”
– Nicole Asbury
8:25 p.m.: Long wait for passengers at DFW
More than 100 passengers crowded around a single luggage carousel, jostling to get their bags and return home. Walter Hill flew back home to Dallas from Tampa, landing in DFW around 4:20 p.m. He had to wait another 3 hours to finally get off the plane.
“It was livable, but gosh, it was just so long,” Hill said as he waited to get his luggage.
– Sally Avila Edwards
8:22 p.m.: Duffy says getting planes back in the air will take some time
At the time of the ground stoppage, there were 3,500 airplanes in the sky.
“And last time I looked, we had less than 400 in the airspace,” Duffy said. He added, “it’s going to be slow” getting air traffic back to normal. The U.S. air traffic control system is “incredibly old” and relies on an analog system that got overloaded with data, said Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy.
“This is an emergency,” he said, calling on Congress for emergency funding for upgrades. “There was never any lives at risk,” Mullin added. “There was no flights at risk. FAA was able to handle it. We did it out of an abundance of caution.”
The homeland security secretary sought to downplay conspiracy theories about what caused the outage. “I do understand the internet traffic, and where all these conspiracies are running towards,” he said.
– The Associated Press
7:45 p.m.: Love Field travelers moving again
At around 7:40 p.m., Love Field employees were going around the airport telling travelers that they were preparing to start boarding again. Travelers started sprinting to TSA and checking into their flights again.
– Nicole Asbury
7:40 p.m.: FAA says airplane departures can resume
The Federal Aviation Administration says airplane departures can resume after the agency lifted a nationwide ground stop caused by communications problems.
The FAA had grounded all flights nationwide Friday afternoon, causing hundreds of flights to be diverted. Officials cited “extraordinary circumstances” caused by communications problems at regional air traffic control centers.
– The Associated Press
7:36: p.m.: JetBlue, Air Canada cancel flights
JetBlue said only Europe-bound flights out of Boston Logan International Airport and New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport would be able to depart Friday night.
“We expect disruptions to continue into tomorrow, including additional cancellations,” JetBlue said in a news release. Air Canada said that the cancellation of all of its flights to and from the U.S. will last the rest of Friday evening. The decision was a result of the U.S. ground stop ordered by the Federal Aviation Administration.
Air Canada said flights between Canada, the Caribbean and South America that go through U.S. airspace could also be affected.
– The Associated Press
7:18 p.m. White House briefing will begin shortly
The White House advised that Secretary of Homeland Security Markwayne Mullin and Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy would deliver a briefing Friday evening on the nationwide ground stop.
– The Associated Press
6:50 p.m.: Dallas Mavericks update from Chicago
The Dallas Mavericks, who are in the middle of a three-game road trip, are scheduled to play against the Cleveland Cavaliers on Saturday at 6:30 p.m. CT before traveling to Boston to play against the Celtics on Sunday at 5 p.m.
The Mavericks were not affected by Friday’s ground stop because they landed at Cleveland Hopkins International Airport at 3:48 p.m. ET, according to FlightAware, just before the order was announced by U.S. Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy at 4:16 p.m. ET.
– Mike Curtis
6:46 p.m.: Travelers face long delays, uncertain timeline
Travelers at DFW are starting to settle in for what may be a late night at the fourth busiest airport in the country.
Passengers have staked claim on almost all the chairs in the concourse, with some sitting on the floor as they wait for updates. One man lay down, putting his neck pillow under his head as he tried to take a nap on the hard terrazzo floor.
Mary Gut sat on the floor with a few colleagues, snacking on pretzels as they waited for updates on their flights. A few in their group left as soon as they heard about the ground stop get a rental car for the 14-hour drive home — but it was already too late.
“When they got to the place, there were no rental cars,” she said. “They were already taken.”
Gut has yet to receive any updates from American Airlines, and is worried they might shut down operations for the night. The News has attempted to reach Southwest and American Airlines for more information.
“It’s been weird, really weird,” she said. “We just have to just take what comes.”
Gate agents are still not checking bags, and did not comment on plans for further operations.
– Sally Avila Edwards
6:34 p.m.: Europe, Mexico suspends US-bound flights
Europe’s aviation agency has suspended U.S.-bound departures at the request of the FAA from 5 p.m. Eastern on Friday until midnight. The agency manages air traffic for its 42 member countries across the continent. Mexico’s federal aviation agency said Friday that all scheduled flights from Mexican airports headed to the U.S. are grounded for the time being.
– The Associated Press
6:27 p.m.: Dallas Stars, Cowboys update
The Buffalo Sabres made it to Dallas ahead of the FAA nationwide ground stop, a Stars spokesperson confirms. Tomorrow’s game appears to be on track.
The San Francisco 49ers, scheduled to play the Cowboys at 3:25 p.m. Sunday afternoon at Arlington’s AT&T Stadium, are scheduled to fly out of California on Saturday afternoon. Most NFL teams fly out on Saturday for Sunday games.
– Lia Assimakopoulos and Calvin Watkins
6:20 p.m.: Delays stack up at Love Field
Kayla Arnold was eager to get on her flight to Atlanta for her birthday trip. Arnold, who turns 33 Saturday, was making her way through TSA PreCheck Friday afternoon when she received a text from a friend that read, “What’s going on with your flight?”
Arnold said she was surprised. She used Google search and learned about the ground stop impacting flights nationwide. She and her accompanying traveler, Kimberly Mecom, were originally set to take off at 5:50 p.m. But by that time, their flight was delayed until at least 8 p.m., they said.
“We’re glad we’re stuck at home and not stuck there trying to get home,” Arnold said.
Southwest Airlines’s customer service and check-in lines were stacked with customers Friday evening, but few people were in line to make their way through security.
“Everything is down,” one woman said on the phone as she strode by a sparse security line.
Love Field was scattered with travelers who were confused and fatigued, as they mulled over whether to head home or stay at the airport. Arnold tried to call an Uber to take her and Mecom to her aunt and uncle’s house, but a car to leave the airport cost $70 — even though her relatives’ home was merely a five-minute drive away.
– Nicole Asbury
6:15 p.m.: National Weather Service radar operational
Tom Bradshaw, chief meteorologist at the National Weather Service’s Fort Worth office, told The Dallas Morning News that there is no radar outage and all systems are operational.
“They were never down,” Bradshaw said.
He added that the weather service’s systems are “completely unaffected” by ongoing telecommunications issues that are causing a nationwide ground stop for air travel.
The National Weather Service said in a social media statement that outdated content from isolated webpages stating otherwise has been circulating, but all radars are “operating normally.”
“In case you heard otherwise, there is no radar outage and radar.weather.gov is fully operational,” the weather service said.
Bradshaw said that the weather service is not “immune” to communications outages, but it is not affected at this time.
– Jacquelyn Burrer
5:08 p.m.: DFW Airport travelers just trying to get home
Ariel Martinez was excited for a quick weekend trip to visit her fiancée in Virginia. Now she’s questioning whether it’s worth the trouble.
“If the flight doesn’t leave tonight, I don’t know if it’s worth it,” she said.
Martinez’s flight was scheduled to leave just before 7 p.m., and she’s yet to receive any information from American Airlines on whether it’s been delayed or cancelled. “I actually just got a text message that the flight is still set to leave,” she said.
All TSA pre-checks remain open for customers, as long as travelers have a boarding pass. But American Airlines is not currently allowing customers to check their bags because of the ground stop.
Despite the hassle, Martinez said her situation could be worse.
“There are people trying to get to work, people trying to get home to sick family members,” she said. “There are people who need this more than I do.”
A DFW Airport spokesperson told The News that travelers should check with their airlines for more information on delays and cancellations.
– Sally Avila Edwards
5:07 p.m.: Love Field passengers in disbelief
A screen at Dallas Love Field airport showed that most departures were delayed Friday afternoon. Travelers peered at the board in disbelief and called others to update on their travel plans.
Tim Tucker, 56, was on the phone with his daughter who he was supposed to walk down the aisle for her wedding Saturday morning. “We’re holding out hope,” he told her by phone.
Tucker and his other daughter, Audrey Tijerina, made it through security to board their Southwest flight to Las Vegas around 3:45 p.m., when they spotted passengers on another flight leave their plane and come back into the building. A couple told them that a national ground stop prevented them from taking off, Tucker said.
They were told later by Southwest employees there was a ground stop due to a communication issue, and it could be anywhere between 30 minutes to seven hours before they were able to depart.
The two contemplated renting a car, but it’d be a 17-hour drive to Las Vegas. By then, there would be no way Tucker would be able to make it to the aisle in time.
“[Our flight] is not canceled just yet, so we’re going to wait until it goes red,” Tucker said. “We’re going to stay here until the last minute.”
– Nicole Asbury
4:39 p.m.: Lines begin to grow at DFW Airport
Lines are starting to grow at the DFW International Airport, where Anna Gonzalez is waiting to get home alongside dozens of other travelers.
Gonzalez has already been traveling for 17 hours as she tries to return to Pennsylvania after a trip to Tokyo. “I’m very tired,” she said. “I want to go home.”
Her flight was already delayed for separate reasons, forcing Gonzalez to stay in a motel last night. As she was making her way to the airport, her family members called to alert her to the nationwide ground stop. “It’s just so scary,” she said.
Gonzalez’s flight is currently delayed for just one hour, and she’s yet to receive any further updates from her airline. Her flight joins the dozens of other delays at the DFW airport, where screens showed almost all arrivals and departures are currently delayed.
– Sally Avila Edwards
4:30 p.m.: Tampa travelers
Sean Bell, 54, a sales manager, was waiting at a gate at Tampa International Airport. He was headed back home to Amarillo via Dallas Love Field. “My question is why is this happening,” he said. “That’s everyone’s question… Now we’re getting grounded. God forbid it’s like 9/11.”
“I love Texas, I want to be back in Texas,” said Bell, who has been in the Tampa area since Tuesday. “I miss my family and I’m ready to get back to them.”
Seated next to Bell was Gary Harrell, 79, a retiree who worked in health care. They had just met and were talking about the ground-stop. Harrell, who lives in St. Petersburg, Fla., was headed to visit relatives in Dallas. “I’ve been through a lot worse, and this is no big deal,” Harrell said. “You have to keep things in perspective. Yes, I’m disappointed that this happened. But I could have been in the Twin Towers during 9/11. We’re just stuck in an airport with A/C. I’m counting my blessings.”
– Thomas Huang
The Associated Press contributed to this report. This is a developing story and will be updated.
Aviation Reporter
Jordan Parker writes about airlines, air travel and aerospace for The Dallas Morning News. He has covered Southwest Airlines and American Airlines since last year, chronicling how both carriers are transforming to compete with major U.S. competitors. He also focuses on developments at DFW International Airport and Dallas Love Field.
Previously, Jordan was a reporter at the San Francisco Chronicle, where he and a colleague won a regional breaking news award for coverage of a woman who was struck and dragged by a robotaxi in San Francisco.
Jordan has a BA in journalism from California State University, Sacramento. He can be reached at jordan.parker@dallasnews.com or on social media.
