FAA Ground Stop Strands Travelers Across the Country

Passengers at airports across the country faced disrupted travel on November 13 after the Federal Aviation Administration issued a nationwide ground stop. The issue affected all Air Route Traffic Control Centers, and FAA technicians were investigating, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said. Airlines were working through the effects as travelers awaited updates on when flights could resume.

At Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport, Erik Sandoval was trying to reach his home in Florida. The plane for Daytona Beach had started taking passengers aboard when its captain announced the stop; about a third of the people on board had boarded by then. Sandoval said travelers reacted with groans as their plans stalled.

He said passengers were waiting amid crowds in eateries, lounges, stores and other parts of the airport. Sandoval considered renting a car, but a one-way trip would have cost about $400, so he declined. Other travelers were arranging shared rides with friends and strangers headed in the same direction. He said passengers were preparing for what might be a long wait.

In Las Vegas, Clara Pablo was also stranded while trying to travel to New York. The ground stop left her and other passengers without a clear timeline for getting to their destinations.