A nationwide Federal Aviation Administration ground stop halted air travel Friday afternoon, affecting flights at Idaho Falls Regional Airport and airports across the United States.
The FAA ordered all U.S. flights grounded shortly before 2 p.m. Mountain Standard Time, citing “extraordinary circumstances and for reasons of safety.” The action was the third nationwide ground stop implemented by the FAA since Sept. 11, 2001.
Multiple flights at Idaho Falls Regional Airport were grounded or delayed, though the exact number of affected local flights was unclear. Airport officials advised travelers to contact their airlines directly for flight-status updates and information about possible travel impacts.
Local Transportation Security Administration officials said the FAA was expected to provide an update at 10 p.m. Nov. 13.
Idaho State University’s men’s basketball team was scheduled to fly to Washington for a Saturday game against Seattle University. The team was deplaned after being told there was no communication in, then boarded a charter bus for the roughly 12-hour trip to Seattle.
“We were on a flight heading to Seattle. We have a game tomorrow,” said C.J. Edwards, an ISU assistant men’s basketball coach.
Chuck Burris, a project manager for Fluor Corporation, was attempting to travel from Idaho Falls to Denver.
“It’s really put a kibosh on my weekend,” Burris said.