A telecommunications outage Friday afternoon caused Federal Aviation Administration air traffic controllers in Dallas to lose radar and some communications, resulting in a halt to flights at the region’s airports.
“The FAA is slowing flights at Dallas Love Field and Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport due to a reported local telephone company equipment issue that does not involve FAA equipment,” the agency told The Independent. “The FAA is working with the telephone company to determine the cause.”
Air traffic controllers use local phone company telecom lines to connect facilities, like airport towers and the Terminal Radar Approach Control, for managing flight arrivals and departures.
A DFW spokesperson also told The Independent that the FAA has issued a ground stop throughout the airport due to an equipment outage.
“Passenger safety is DAL’s top priority, and we are in constant communication with our partners, including the FAA, as they work to manage the situation and minimize disruptions. These and future notices can be viewed on the FAA’s NASS,” they said, adding, adding that travelers should check with their airline for the most up-to-date flight status or accommodation information.
By mid‑afternoon, there were 273 delayed flights at DFW, while Love Field had 69 delays.
The most recent FAA alert reports average Dallas flight delays of two hours and 13 minutes, with some delays exceeding seven hours.
More to come…
