Published on September 18, 2025
By: Paramita Sarkar
San Diego International Airport was plunged into chaos on Wednesday evening when a private aircraft suffered a nose gear failure during landing, forcing the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to halt all flights. The incident occurred at approximately 6:40 p.m., when the plane became disabled on the runway after its landing gear collapsed. According to the FAA, no passengers sustained injuries, but the runway was blocked, making it impossible for scheduled arrivals and departures to continue safely.
The grounding triggered widespread travel disruption, with inbound flights diverted to alternative airports across California and neighbouring states. San Diego, Eugene, and Oregon passengers faced severe uncertainty, with some aircraft turned back to their origin airports due to the extended runway closure.

Who Was Affected by the Ground Stop

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Thousands of travellers across San Diego, Eugene, and Oregon were directly impacted. Flights destined for San Diego were diverted mid-air, while aircraft already en route to Oregon and neighbouring cities were held back or returned to departure points. Passengers arriving from Oregon’s Eugene Airport were among those most severely disrupted, with their journeys abruptly interrupted and rescheduled multiple times.
The cascading impact extended beyond San Diego International Airport to neighbouring hubs in California and Oregon, creating ripples of cancellations and delays that stranded families, business travellers, and tourists. The airport’s website flight tracker malfunctioned during the critical hours, leaving many without access to real-time updates on diversions and cancellations.

Incident Unfolded and the Timeline of Disruption

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The emergency call was received at 6:40 p.m. local time on Wednesday. Within minutes, FAA officials issued a ground stop for San Diego International Airport, halting all departures and preventing incoming aircraft from landing. By 7:45 p.m., it was confirmed that the closure would extend until at least midnight, as emergency crews worked to remove the disabled plane from the runway.
During the extended shutdown, airlines were forced to re-route flights to nearby airports such as Los Angeles International (LAX), Ontario International, and John Wayne Airport. Passengers travelling between San Diego and Oregon, including Eugene, had to disembark and re-board as airlines attempted to adjust schedules in anticipation of the runway reopening. However, as FAA updates confirmed prolonged disruption, additional cancellations and diversions became inevitable.

Disruption Spread Beyond San Diego

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While the epicentre of the emergency was San Diego International Airport, the disruption quickly spread across Oregon and the Pacific Northwest. Travellers from Eugene and other Oregon destinations were forced to wait as schedules shifted unpredictably. Inbound aircraft from the Pacific Coast, including Oregon’s busy connections, were diverted to alternative airports, overwhelming nearby facilities and straining airline schedules.
The effects extended across the western United States, with passengers arriving in California and Oregon facing long delays, overnight waits, and missed connections. Hotels near airports in San Diego, Los Angeles, and Oregon quickly filled as travellers scrambled for accommodation during the extended shutdown.

Was the Ground Stop Necessary?

The FAA explained that the private aircraft’s nose gear collapse left it stranded on the main runway, blocking all traffic in and out of San Diego International Airport. With no alternative runway suitable for commercial traffic, safety protocols required a full ground stop until the disabled aircraft could be removed.
Although there were no injuries, the stranded aircraft created a high-risk scenario, preventing any flights from safely taking off or landing. The closure was enforced to protect passengers, crew, and ground staff while recovery operations were underway.

How Passengers Can Cope with the Extended Disruption

Passengers travelling through San Diego, Eugene, and Oregon were advised to monitor FAA advisories and check with airlines for rebooking options. The FAA’s official updates emphasised that inbound flights would remain diverted until midnight, leaving thousands stranded.
Travellers are urged to keep essential safety protocols in mind: stay updated via official FAA and San Diego International Airport channels, avoid relying on third-party sources, and prepare for overnight accommodation near alternative airports if necessary. Airlines continue to prioritise rebooking stranded passengers, but schedules remain uncertain until the runway is cleared.

San Diego and Oregon Passengers Left in Limbo

San Diego International Airport’s runway emergency has created one of the most disruptive travel nights in recent memory for passengers across San Diego, Eugene, and Oregon. With the FAA confirming a ground stop until at least midnight, thousands were left stranded or diverted, reshaping travel plans across the western United States.
The nose gear collapse of a private aircraft highlighted how a single emergency can paralyse one of California’s busiest airports, causing ripple effects across neighbouring Oregon and beyond. While no injuries were reported, the travel chaos underscored the vulnerability of modern aviation to sudden, unexpected incidents. Until the disabled plane is cleared and normal operations resume, travellers remain caught in a web of delays, diversions, and uncertainty.

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Tags: Eugene flight disruptions, Oregon travel chaos, San Diego flight cancellations, San Diego International Airport emergency

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