Severe thunderstorms wreaked havoc on air travel Sunday, resulting in significant disruptions across the country. More than 9,600 flights were delayed, and 1,405 were canceled as storms impacted major airports.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) temporarily halted departures to key Washington D.C. airports due to urgent repairs on a power panel at an air traffic control facility.
Starting at 6 p.m. ET, the FAA implemented ground stops at Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport, Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, and Dulles International Airport, halting all takeoffs to these destinations.
Over 9,600 flights were delayed nationwide as weather and technical issues converged.The ground stops were lifted within an hour after repairs were completed. The FAA confirmed that a backup system-maintained communication during the repair period, although delays at Dulles Airport averaged around 90 minutes as of 7:15 p.m.
The impact of the weather extended beyond Washington D.C. On Saturday, approximately 7,200 U.S. flights were delayed. On Sunday, adverse weather continued to disrupt flights from Miami to Boston and Detroit. Newark Liberty International Airport faced significant delays, with over 500 flights affected.
This airport is a crucial hub for United Airlines, which saw more than 1,159 mainline flights delayed nationwide—about 40% of its total flights.
American Airlines experienced 1,258 delays, impacting 36% of its mainline schedule. Delta Air Lines reported 1,221 delayed flights, or 34% of its schedule, while JetBlue Airways had 579 delays, accounting for 55% of its planned flights.