FAA Flight Disruption: How the Ground Stop Is Affecting CFB and NFL Travel This Weekend
Flight ban disrupts sports travel
The Federal Aviation Administration’s nationwide flight stoppage on Friday stranded NBA, NHL and college teams as they tried to reach their destinations. NFL teams also faced uncertainty about whether they could travel in time for this weekend’s games.
The ban was officially lifted, but travel did not immediately return to normal. Teams and programs continued dealing with disruptions as they tried to get to their games.
Teams face delays before games
Colorado State’s flight to Washington State was affected, so the team used the tarmac for a walk-through practice. Many college football teams usually travel the day before a Saturday game, leaving several schools at a standstill as they prepared to depart.
No. 2 Utah is scheduled to play at No. 22 Arizona, eighth-ranked Texas visits No. 24 LSU, and No. 9 Tennessee travels to Texas A&M. Texas shared a video of players boarding their plane before the stoppage. A bus trip to Baton Rouge would take about seven hours for the 6:30 p.m. CT kickoff.
Cause and remaining uncertainty
Before the ban was lifted, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said a communications issue affected 22 regional air traffic control centers that direct planes between airports nationwide. FAA technicians were investigating the problem.
Key points
- The FAA grounded flights nationwide Friday, disrupting sports teams’ travel plans.
- Colorado State held a walk-through practice on the tarmac after its flight was affected.
- Utah, Texas and Tennessee faced delays before road games scheduled for Saturday.
- A communications issue affected 22 regional air traffic control centers, Sean Duffy said.