FAA lifts ground stop after 6,532 flights cancelled
The FAA ended a nationwide ground stop, but 8,184 delays and 6,532 cancellations persisted into the weekend, affecting major carriers and airports.
Key points
- The ground stop lasted nearly five hours before being lifted Friday evening.
- FlightAware reported 8,184 delays and 6,532 cancellations as of Saturday night.
- Delta, United, American canceled about 25% of flights; JetBlue nearly 45%.
- Major hubs such as O’Hare, Atlanta, Dallas‑Fort Worth, Denver, and Charlotte were heavily impacted.
- The FAA attributes the stoppage to a contractor’s work on copper wire at one site, with L3Harris named as the contractor.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) lifted its nationwide ground stop on Friday evening, but flight disruptions continued into the weekend. As of Saturday night EST, FlightAware reported 8,184 flight delays and 6,532 total cancellations within, into, or out of the United States. More than 530 flights scheduled for Sunday were already cancelled.
Friday’s stoppage lasted for nearly five hours. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy stated that the ground stop began with a contractor replacing copper wire with fiber at one site. Duffy identified L3Harris as the contractor whose work triggered the malfunction. Investigators are examining whether human error or faulty equipment caused the issue, while dismissing the likelihood of a cyberattack.
Major carriers faced significant cancellations on Saturday. Delta Air Lines, United Airlines, and American Airlines cancelled about 25% of their flights, while JetBlue cancelled nearly 45%. Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport, Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport, Dallas Fort Worth International Airport, Denver International Airport, and Charlotte Douglas International Airport were among the most affected hubs.
The disruption also impacted sports, stranding some college football teams before games scheduled for Saturday. Most sporting events returned to normal on Saturday, though some games were pushed back by several hours. The FAA expects the national air travel system to recover by Sunday.
Your questions, answered
What caused the FAA ground stop?
The FAA said the stop began when a contractor replaced copper wire with fiber at one site, with L3Harris identified as the contractor.
How many flights were cancelled during the ground stop?
FlightAware reported 6,532 cancellations and 8,184 delays as of Saturday night.
How does this story make you feel?
Topics
Up next · PoliticsThe Unseen Fallout: Sean Duffy's Son-in-Law at the Center of the FAA Ground Stop Crisis and Trump's Absent Leadership
