Overview
- A departures-only ground stop at Minneapolis–St. Paul International Airport began after a regional FAA equipment outage disrupted air-traffic control operations, with the pause first reported around 2:30 p.m. on Thursday.
- The FAA said telecommunication issues paused traffic through the Minneapolis Air Route Traffic Control Center, and MSP lifted the ground stop and airlines resumed operations after services were restored later that afternoon.
- The outage affected radar and controller systems that cover a large portion of the Upper Midwest, causing dozens of delayed departures and forcing some inbound flights to divert or hold before landing.
- MSP advised passengers to check with their airlines for updated flight status, while travelers on affected flights reported hours-long delays and reroutes that added to missed connections and rebooking needs.
- A retired pilot and other experts said the failure underscores long-standing concerns about outdated FAA equipment and adds urgency to the agency’s planned air-traffic-control modernization effort, though investigators are still probing the exact cause.