What is a 'ground stop'?: Explanation

All right. We want to go to Antoine Lewis right now in the newsroom because, Antoine, I think it's important to remind our viewers what a ground stop is. It is a temporary air traffic control restriction issued by the FAA where planes can land, but they cannot take off. So it's important to know that. Let's check in with Antoine with the very latest there if we've got him. That's exactly right. It means that they will stay at the airport of origin until deemed otherwise to be able to take off. Now, it does not mean an entire airport is permanently closed. or that all ground vehicle activity has be right there. It can apply A single specific airport, a regional air force, or in rare instances, like it's today, nationwide. Now, this was issued around 3:30 this afternoon from the FAA. They were citing communication issues. As we've been discussing, we know that they recently switched to a new technology, so we're still trying to get official confirmation if that played any role in this. But, yeah, ground stop means exactly that. A flight cannot take off from an airport until deemed otherwise by the federal government, and that's where we are. Right now with this, it's impacting some 19,000, just over 19,000 airports nationwide and we're talking about 22 air traffic Communication centers, if you will, these are the ones that control the airspace, where it can go. You can go here. You can do that. So this is that we're still doing that. We're also getting information, which I'm trying to work on. And we'll let you know when I'm ready for that, because the stoppage has impacted several sports teams that were supposed to be playing. So we're talking about the impact on college football, the NBA, just to put it to you at home as I'm gathering more information. The Brooklyn Nets are stuck in New Orleans right now. Here's what happened. They beat the Pelicans last night. And we're supposed to be flying on their way to Minneapolis. And that's who they're playing, Memphis, rather. They're supposed to be playing the Memphis Grizzlies. And what happened is they can't take off because they are stuck. They're supposed to play tonight. So now the NBA is dealing with that. It is not just the Nets. We're also talking to Cleveland Cavaliers, Chicago Bulls, Grizzlies impacted, Dallas Mavericks. So this is just the teams. Think about now you have to get the referees You have to get all of the officials who may be trying to get there to call. the games also college football as we know is big big huge we're now talking about games that were set For Saturday, that you have to be in the city, in the town that you're going to be playing at least 24 hours before. If you are stuck right now, that deadline will not be met. So we're talking number two, Utah, number six, Texas, number eight, Tennessee, Ole Miss, Arizona State. So a lot of college football games are also particularly one Power Four conference game. So this is the trickle down is far reaching as far as how this is going to be impacting, Not just those who are scheduled to fly for leisure. We're talking now sporting events and the career, the jobs of those that could be associated with such. Yeah. Once you get sports involved. Oh, yeah. That gets people's attention. No doubt about that. But I mean, it is late in the college football season when these games will be made up. Fascinating sort of insight into how this is going to continue to impact more and more of our society. We appreciate that, Antoine.