Southern California airports impacted by FAA nationwide ground stop
Airports across Southern California are being impacted by a Federal Aviation Administration nationwide ground stop on Friday afternoon.
Los Angeles International Airport, Ontario International Airport, Hollywood Burbank Airport and John Wayne Airport confirmed they are affected by the ground stop.
The FAA issued a rare nationwide ground stop for all departing flights due to "extraordinary circumstances and for reasons of safety."
The ground stop was posted to the FAA's National Airspace System Status website.
"Every flight has been accounted for and international flights will be handled on a case by case basis," the FAA wrote in a post on X.
U.S. Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy posted on X, that the FAA issued the nationwide ground stop "following communication issues impacting multiple Air Route Traffic Control Centers."
Duffy added that technicians are investigating the incident.
LAX
LAX posted on X that travelers should anticipate delays and should contact their airlines for flight status.
Patty Moore, who is traveling from Canada, was unaware of the situation as her family was waiting for their flight at LAX.
"Well, we heard only from my son back home in Canada that we're going to be grounded...he sent us a text," she said.
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass said in a post to X that she is in close contact with LAX officials regarding the issue. "We will continue to monitor this evolving situation and work closely with federal and state partners," she stated.
"I have to stay here until tomorrow, 10 a.m. or noon," traveler Saida Reynoso said. "I am going to Nashville. I have to wait for my bags, but I don't know if they come in tomorrow."
Ontario International Airport
Travelers at Ontario International Airport were also left stranded after the nationwide ground stop.
"We're in limbo," traveler Kelley Olson said. "They're not saying what happened. They're saying there's just another issue that they're not really telling us why."
Ontario Airport said they're aware of the nationwide ground stop.
"We are monitoring the situation closely and will provide updates as soon as they are available," an Ontario International Airport spokesperson said. "Passengers are encouraged to check with their airlines for the latest flight information."
Instead of waiting for the ground stop to be lifted, some people decided to take matters into their own hands.
"Indefinite hold, no idea when they're going to take off," traveler Russ Crocker said. "I'm going to rent a car and drive. Nothing's keeping me from Vegas."
Hollywood Burbank Airport
The ground stop left passengers on at least one arriving flight at Burbank Airport stranded on the runway while they waited for a gate.
"Once we got here, there was nowhere for us to park at," passenger Logan Brown said. "We were stuck on the tarmac for about an hour and a half until they finally let us off."
A spokesperson for Burbank Airport said that they've advised travelers to check with their airlines for any updates on delays.
"I'm sure I'll get there eventually," traveler Derek Batt said. "Hopefully, it'll only be an hour or two."
Other travelers rebooked their flights, but we're as optimistic as Batt.
"They had booked us a flight for tomorrow, but we're very skeptical that it's going to happen," traveler Landen Staro said. "We're just waiting to hear."
John Wayne Airport
It was more of the same at John Wayne Airport, with jets lined up on the tarmac and gates, with a private plane the only aircraft taking off.
Debra Caviness, a flight attendant who worked on 9/11 and was traveling on her day off, said the entire ordeal reminded her of that day. Her worries were alleviated when the gates started freeing up.
"I thought we'd be out there for hours, but apparently they got the planes off the gate and got us a gate," she said.
Some passengers said they didn't know about the ground stop until they landed and the pilot announced it over the loudspeaker.
"This is all news to me because I had my headphones on," passenger Michael Dunbar said. "I just found out when I walked up the steps, and I saw your crew."
