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FAA ground stop chaos spreads into Sunday at LAX and SFO
Disruption caused by Friday’s nationwide FAA ground stop continued at Los Angeles International Airport and San Francisco International Airport on Sunday, leaving travellers facing cancellations, delays and missing luggage. The lingering problems show how a major aviation shutdown can affect journeys for days after it is lifted, as airlines work to reposition aircraft and crews.
As of Sunday morning, LAX reported 46 delays and 21 cancellations, while SFO reported 14 delays and eight cancellations. Friday’s ground stop forced more than 3,500 aircraft to land and disrupted hundreds of thousands of passengers; at SFO, travellers described missed connections, overnight stays and searches for bags, including a newlywed couple’s missing wedding clothes.
In short
- Friday’s FAA ground stop continued to disrupt California airports on Sunday.
- LAX reported 21 cancellations and SFO reported eight.
- Passengers faced missed connections, overnight stays and missing luggage.
Explained simply
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) oversees air traffic in the United States and can order a ground stop, temporarily preventing aircraft from taking off. Friday’s nationwide shutdown disrupted flights across the country, affecting passengers and the movement of aircraft and airline crews.
Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) and San Francisco International Airport (SFO) are major West Coast hubs, where delays can disrupt connecting journeys as well as flights starting or ending there. When aircraft and crews are out of position, and passengers miss connections, the effects can continue after a shutdown ends, including delays, cancellations and baggage problems.