Airlines across the country worked Saturday to recover from the longest nationwide ground stop in 25 years, which canceled more than 2,000 flights and stranded travelers from coast to coast. The Federal Aviation Administration halted flights for more than four hours Friday before the stop was lifted around 8:15 p.m. ET.
Trump administration officials said new technology being added to the air traffic control system overloaded aging equipment, causing intermittent communication and radar gaps. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy blamed the failure on legacy equipment and said the new systems did not go down. He also warned that more disruptions are possible.
FlightAware reported more than 2,500 cancellations in the U.S. on Saturday, with hundreds more delayed. Officials expect the system to return to normal in time for the Thanksgiving travel rush.
The effects reached beyond U.S. borders. At London’s Heathrow Airport, several flights to and from the U.S. were delayed or canceled, including American Airlines and Delta services.
Sports teams also scrambled. Auburn moved its start time at Mississippi State from noon to 4:15 p.m. after its team chose a bus, and several other universities, including Ole Miss, adjusted travel plans.
Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin said no one was in danger as more than 3,000 flights landed safely Friday.
