DFW Airport Travelers Warned: Dallas Airport Air Traffic Control Failure Sparks Ground Stops, Major Delays and Hundreds of Cancellations
A sudden air traffic control outage in Dallas on Friday, September 19, 2025, brought operations at both Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW Airport) and Dallas Love Field to a standstill. The disruption was linked to a telecommunications equipment failure involving a local phone company, causing a ripple effect across the nation’s air travel system.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) confirmed that the issue did not originate from its own equipment but affected radar and communications capabilities at the Dallas TRACON facility, which manages flights in and out of the Dallas region.
Ground Stops and Dallas Airport Delays Affect Thousands of Passengers
The FAA issued ground stops at DFW Airport and Dallas Love Field before shifting them to ground delays later in the day. The result was chaos for travelers, with hundreds of flights impacted.
Impact by Airport:
| Airport | Delayed Flights | Cancellations | Average Delay |
|---|---|---|---|
| DFW Airport | Nearly 700 | About 200 | 2–7 hours |
| Dallas Love Field | Around 160 | 1 | 30 minutes |
Passengers reported average delays of more than two hours at DFW Airport, with some flights held back by over seven hours. At Dallas Love Field, delays were shorter but still disruptive, averaging around 30 minutes. Smaller regional airports, including Fort Worth’s Meacham and McKinney National, also reported disruptions.
Airlines Issue Alerts and Rebooking Options
Airlines, particularly American Airlines which has a major hub at DFW Airport, scrambled to accommodate stranded passengers. American Airlines released a travel alert, allowing passengers to rebook flights without additional change fees.
Advice for Travelers:
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Continuously check flight status with the airline before heading to Dallas airports.
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Allow extra time at DFW and Dallas Love Field due to ongoing security and boarding delays.
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Consider rebooking if travel is flexible, as delays are expected to linger throughout the evening.
FAA and Local Providers Investigating the Cause
The FAA confirmed that the problem stemmed from local telephone company equipment, not from FAA-owned systems. FAA officials are working with the provider to ensure full restoration of services and to prevent further incidents.
While the official ground stop was lifted after about two hours, lingering delays continued to cause frustration well into the evening, with flights stacked on runways and connections missed nationwide.
What DFW Airport and Dallas Airport Travelers Need to Know
For passengers traveling through DFW Airport or Dallas Airport, the following key points summarize the ongoing situation:
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Ground stops were issued but later downgraded to ground delays, meaning flights are departing more slowly than scheduled.
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DFW Airport delays remain severe, with hundreds of cancellations already logged.
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Dallas Airport air traffic control systems are now partially restored, but residual effects continue to affect schedules.
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Travelers are urged to remain in contact with their airlines, especially for evening and weekend flights.
Broader Impact on U.S. Air Travel
Because DFW Airport is one of the nation’s busiest hubs, the disruption extended well beyond Texas. Connections across the country faced delays as flights originating or transiting through Dallas were either canceled or rescheduled. The FAA emphasized that full normal operations would resume only after the telecommunications equipment issue is completely resolved.
The incident highlights the vulnerability of major air traffic systems to localized technical failures, with thousands of travelers stranded or delayed due to a single point of disruption.
