FAA nationwide ground stop halts flights at DFW airports

And you are looking live right now at DFW International Airport, one of the busiest in the country, at least it normally would be on a Friday evening. But you see, no activity at all. The Federal Aviation Administration grounded all flights, not just at DFW, but across the entire country this afternoon. Good evening, everybody. I'm Casey Stegall. Thank you for being here tonight. Not a whole lot of information just yet, other than it is because of a technical communications glitch. At this point, there have been no indications of any nefarious act. Secretary of Homeland Security Mark Wayne Mullen saying that there is no indication at this time there is a threat to the homeland. Listen. As we investigate what caused this, you always got to assume that as many cyber attacks that take place that you make that assumption. So but we as of right now, that's not known. So we are we're going to continue to work. The first thing we want to do is make sure we restore the communications. We get all the flights on the ground and then we we get back normal operations. But we're going to continue to work to find out what the root of the cause is. You're live now to Fox Sports' Peyton Yeager, who has been covering all of the developments for us. She is live at DFW Airport right now. Peyton, what can you tell us at this point? Hi, Casey. Yeah, we're here in Terminal C, the American Airlines terminal, and we have a list of boards here behind me, everyone taking a stop to look at it. And the majority of these flights here at DFW I think there's a lot of I would say 90% of them say delayed here on the on this board, some say on time, but that's way later into the evening and that's what we're hearing from some people. But as we walked in here at Terminal C, some people are going through security, but we're noticing right here as these people are told that they're not allowed to check their bags at this time due to the nationwide ground stop. Some of these people need to check their luggage in, went up to the gate agent and then they were told, hey, we cannot check your bags in right now. So some people are, some people are not. I don't know if that has to do with the timing of the planes right now. But for people who did have a carry on, they are allowed to go through security right now as usual, but then they're going to their gate. And as we walked in, everyone got to their gate and was immediately on their phone. That's what's happening here at the terminal. Now we do have people who are still. We're on airplanes, either at the gate on the airplane or on the runway on the tarmac. And we spoke with Kasher Roy. He's a local DFW sports broadcaster. He was headed to Miami this afternoon. He has now been on the plane for two hours and 15 minutes, but I just spoke to him a few minutes ago. Let's hear what he had to say. We have been on the flight for hour 45 minutes, hour 40 minutes, pushed off from the gate. And they just told us that there was an electrical problem, and then we found out it was national through social media and stuff. And I don't even think that the pilots actually said those words to us, but everybody knows on the flight. And then they just said that there was a telecom issue, a communications issue of some kind, and that we're trying to figure it out. And the first thing that he said, I think I sent it in Was that they said it could be 10 minutes, it could be 30 minutes, we don't know, and I'll let you know as soon as I know, and it's been vague. And then we found the national news through social media and it just got around the plane and people are sharing information and it's just kinda, it's pretty chill. Okay, so no one is, seems like no one's moving around, everyone's just kind of on their phone. Yeah, everybody's on bathroom runs. They told us that the bathrooms are open for us. But we're hearing people that are getting off the planes in other cities that are being told that it's going to be seven hours before somebody gets up in the air. So I don't know if they're hoping to wait it out and get us up, but it feels pretty hopeless at this point. And I just checked in with Cash a few minutes ago before this live shot. Still no answers from the pilot there or the crew there. They're still trying to figure out, but he's still on the plane. And you come to the airport, Casey, everyone's on their phone. But when I walked in, everyone is glued to their phone, refreshing news outlets, social media trying to get an answer. So I know so many people have questions here, but it really is on a case by case basis, a flight by flight basis. The majority of people delayed, but I just spoke to a man headed to Sacramento. His says on time, but he's just waiting for that to switch over to delayed. But airlines recommending people just continue to check the apps and stay tuned. And as I walked in here, we got here around 4 p.m. and there was an agent here talking to a TSA agent, an agent, American Airlines agent talking to a TSA agent. And they said, quote, this is going to be a long evening if that just stops. Sets the tone for what's happening here at DFW Airport, but we'll we'll keep you updated back to you in the studio. So Peyton, I'm a little curious if you have seen anyone from DFW Airport walking around out there. I've been sort of watching some of the other coverage and we're talking about cots being set up at some other airports nationwide. As you said, getting ready for a very, very long night ahead. If so many people are unable to get out and this ground stop doesn't lift soon. Have you been able to talk to anybody at the airport itself in terms of some of the preparations that might be in play here? I know and so many of these passengers have the same questions and also want to speak with somebody from the airport, people who don't necessarily live here, we've heard Several people come up to us that just want to bite the bullet. They're like, I'm just gonna get a hotel. So those accommodations are being made right now. As we were pulling into the airport, there's a cell phone lots that seemed pretty full. I think people were just in a holding pattern, whether they were picking up someone or taking off trying to figure out what to do next. So I think right now, as we hit five o'clock, people are trying to figure out their plans for the remainder of the evening. Yeah, there are just so many unanswered questions at this point. Is there a sense of frustration or would you say people are more understanding? I mean, this isn't a weather ordeal. We're talking about something that's impacting every single airport across the country. So are people frustrated? Do folks seem to be taking it in stride? What would you say? I would say confused because I think the overall answer is telecommunications issue and that's really what's being put out right now. So I think confused about what's next, how long this will last, will they be even able to get out tonight, should they make accommodations for tonight. So I would say the number one thing is confused. I noticed Cash, the Zoom of the witness on the airplane. He seemed a little bit more frustrated and people around him on the plane. I mean, you're crammed on that plane with no real information about what's next. So I sensed a little more frustration from him not knowing when he's even going to be able to get off the plane than people here at the terminal. A couple of different things. First of all, I find it fascinating that you're able to do a Zoom interview while a man is sitting on the plane. I mean, what a good get there. But yeah, Peyton, I mean, a very different story for the people that are still there at the airport, milling around behind you, as opposed to those who are sitting on the plane. Because a lot of us have been in those situations before. You're not really supposed to get up out of your seat. They want you to stay in your seat with your belt fastened, because especially if you're near an active taxiway, So the frustrations, I imagine, are extremely high on the airplane, very different there with the folks behind you. But you have talked to some folks that are going ahead and just, like you said, biting the bullet and getting airports. I wonder how quickly hotel rooms, I wonder how quickly those will sell out around there. Right, and yeah, looking to us for answers and we're trying to tell them we're learning as we're going as well. And some people just wanna take the safe route, get a hotel, reach out to family and friends who are already here, maybe stay another night. But as far as cash, he was very grateful that no one was up talking, panicking around the plane. Everyone seemed pretty quiet, but he's on social media. Pretty in the know and has Facebook and X and and watches our coverage. So he was in the know. And so he waited to do that Zoom a little bit until communication did come from the pilot. And then other people on the plane started to catch wind because Because they, some people around him had no idea what was going on. They had not turned their phones back on. The man next to him was asleep, so they didn't even know what was going on. And as word started to spread on the plane, then he felt comfortable to do Zoom with us. Clearly, there are so many decisions that are being made behind the scenes. I mean, American Airlines is headquartered here in Fort Worth. You have Southwest Airlines headquartered at Dallas Love Field. I just wonder at what point the carriers themselves make the decision to go ahead and allow those planes to be unloaded. And if they don't look like they're going anywhere for the night, if they go ahead and start getting those passengers off, people can't stay on the plane all night. And just a sigh of relief of people at baggage claim when we first walked in, I asked, were you part of this? They're like, no, we had just landed. Some people just landed 20 minutes before this happened. And so they were just so extremely thankful that they didn't have to go through that. And then on juxtaposition on the other end, you had people who were walking in thinking they're about to board the plane for their weekend. And then now they made it through security, but now they're sitting at their gate wondering what's next. DFW averages about 870 scheduled passenger departures a day, about 2000 takeoffs and landings a day combined. DFW recorded more than 743,000 aircraft operations in 2025. It is one of the largest airports, one of the busiest in terms of passenger traffic in the whole nation. So really a hub of misery right there where you happen to be, Peyton. I know and I just these people that I keep I've been hanging out with them for the last hour. I'm telling you they're not even looking up. They are refreshing their phone, refreshing the news, refreshing social media, just trying to get any answer. But we are certainly working to get those folks answers as well. Fox Force, Peyton Yeager, we're gonna let you go and let you continue to news gather. Thank you so much for your reporting. I've been doing what we call tap dancing a little bit here in the business because we did have an aviation expert that was lined up to speak with us following Peyton's interview. And I was hoping if I could keep Peyton on a little bit longer, I would be able to sort of vamp right into that. But unfortunately, he has not dialed in yet. So we want to, of course, let you know that we are on top of it. The newsroom is a beehive of activity here at Fox 4. We have producers and the assignment desk and people all over that are making phone calls and trying to To get as much information on this as we can to relay to you. But there you see a live look right now at 511 on this Friday the 13th. Something you do not see every day, ladies and gentlemen, no planes. Taking off or landing from DFW International Airport, one of the busiest hubs, one of the busiest travel hubs in the nation. And you see all of the planes just parked there. Some of them have people loaded on them. Others were just about to board when the FAA issued this ground stop this afternoon. So just an incredible situation.