Planes stopped taking off from DFW International Airport and Dallas Love Field Friday afternoon after the Federal Aviation Administration ordered every airport in the country to hold departing flights on the ground.
In a social media post, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said a communication problem was affecting all of the nation's Air Route Traffic Control Centers. "FAA technicians are investigating the issue. We will provide immediate updates as we have them," Duffy wrote, according to Texas Public Radio.
The FAA alert told operators that all departing traffic should stay grounded "until further notice" and that international flights inbound to the U.S. would be handled case by case. Planes already in the air were allowed to continue to their destinations. As of the latest reports Friday evening, no time had been announced for lifting the order.
Delays at both Dallas airports
CBS News Texas reported in a 4:52 p.m. update that 817 flights had been delayed at DFW and 198 at Love Field. The station's helicopter showed planes parked at gates and on the tarmac at DFW.
A DFW Airport spokesperson told the Dallas Observer that passengers should contact their airline about delays and cancellations. A Love Field representative told the Observer that the ground stop and slower check-ins had led to a slight increase in the number of people in the terminal, and asked passengers to be patient and follow staff instructions.
American Airlines told CBS News Texas it expected its flights to be disrupted through Friday night, with the extent tied to the length of the stop. The airline said it would be "all hands on deck" to move customers once the FAA lifts the order.
