FAA Ground Stop Lifted, Putting Tennessee Travel Plans Back on Track Ahead of Texas A&M Game

FAA Stop Delays Tennessee Departure

A communications problem affecting air traffic control centers led the FAA to issue a nationwide ground stop Friday. Flights across the country were unable to depart, including Tennessee’s planned trip from Knoxville.

The Volunteers returned to campus while officials worked out when flights could resume. The delay prompted questions about whether Tennessee would reach Texas before Saturday’s 2 p.m. CT kickoff.

Volunteers Plan Friday Night Flight

After the ground stop was lifted, Tennessee planned to return to McGhee Tyson Airport Friday night and fly to College Station, according to On3’s Chris Low. The team had considered traveling Saturday morning, a plan that would have left less time before kickoff.

Tennessee is expected to have less time to settle in than originally planned. The story describes this as a smaller inconvenience than the prospect of traveling on game day.

Other Teams Also Affected

Tennessee was not the only college football program facing travel problems. Texas, Ole Miss and Baylor were also preparing for road games Saturday when the disruption hit. Some programs considered other ways to travel, while others faced the possibility of waiting until Saturday. The SEC monitored whether the situation could affect scheduled kickoff times.

Game Remains On Schedule

Texas A&M is set to host No. 8 Tennessee in its annual Operation Blackout game at Kyle Field. The matchup remains scheduled for 2 p.m. CT on ESPN.

The Aggies are seeking to end a difficult stretch, while Tennessee comes into the game after beating Kentucky last weekend. Despite the travel interruption, the teams appear set to meet as planned.