The Federal Aviation Administration slowed air traffic into the Dallas Fort Worth area after a telecommunications outage hindered air traffic controllers.
“The FAA is slowing flights at Dallas Love Field and Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport due to a reported local telephone company equipment issue that does not involve FAA equipment. The FAA is working with the telephone company to determine the cause.”
Flights into both airports are are being delayed at their departure points for around 30-60 minutes, according to the FAA. Some flights that were already in the air were diverted to other airports.
“The entire Metroplex radar is out of service and everything is stopped, so use caution,” a controller at Dallas Love Field was heard telling a departing pilot on audio captured by LiveATC.net.
Southwest Airlines, a major operator at Dallas Love Field, confirmed to USA TODAY that some of the carrier’s flights had been affected, including a handful that had been diverted.
“We will work to get them back on track as soon as the FAA gives the go-ahead,” Lynn Lunsford, a Southwest spokesperson, said in an email.
American Airlines, which has its main hub at Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport, was not immediately able to provide information on how its operations were affected.
According to data from FlightAware, the two airports had a combined 23 flights cancelled and an additional 194 flights delayed as of 3:05 p.m. CT.
The ground delay program is expected to be in place until at least 8 p.m. CT for Love Field and 9 p.m. CT for DFW.
The telecom issue in Dallas mirrors a series of similar incidents that struck air traffic controllers for Newark Liberty International Airport’s airspace this spring.
Zach Wichter is a travel reporter and writes the Cruising Altitude column for USA TODAY. He is based in New York and you can reach him at zwichter@usatoday.com.

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