A nationwide halt on all flights, blamed on a communications problem at air traffic control centers, left at least 10 Power 4 college football teams and other travelers scrambling to reach their games.
The Federal Aviation Administration ordered a nationwide ground stop on Friday, grounding all flights and throwing the sports weekend into disarray. NBA, NHL and college teams were left stranded trying to reach their destinations, while NFL teams waited to see whether the problem would clear in time for weekend travel.
The FAA said the stop was issued "due to extraordinary circumstances and for reasons of safety." Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said the trouble stemmed from a communications issue affecting the 22 regional air traffic control centers that direct planes flying between airports nationwide, and that FAA technicians were investigating the cause. The Secretary of Homeland Security said there was no reason for travelers' families to be concerned about flight safety.
At least 10 Power 4 college football programs had their travel plans disrupted by the stoppage. The scope of delays and cancellations across the NBA, NHL and other leagues was still being tallied as teams tried to adjust their schedules around the shutdown.
It remains unclear how long the ground stop will last or how many games could be affected before the weekend's slate of contests begins.