Dallas-area flights snarled as telecom equipment issue disrupts air traffic control, FAA says
Telecommunications equipment problems at a Dallas-area air traffic facility slowed flights into and out of Dallas/Fort Worth International and Love Field; hundreds were delayed or canceled and delays could continue into the night.
Federal officials say hundreds of flights in and out of Dallas were delayed or canceled Friday as telecommunications equipment issues disrupted one of the nation's busiest airports. The Federal Aviation Administration said it was slowing flights at Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport because of a 'reported local telephone company equipment issue.' The same problems were also impacting Dallas Love Field, according to the agency, which said the issue did not involve FAA equipment.
FlightAware data showed nearly 700 flights in and out of DFW were delayed and about 200 canceled by late Friday afternoon, with about 160 flights at Love Field delayed and one canceled. A Love Field spokesperson said they were in 'constant communication' with partners including the FAA as they 'work to manage the situation and minimize disruptions.' DFW Airport said on X that the FAA was managing the air traffic delays in the area. At Love Field, departures were averaging about a 30-minute delay, while at DFW there was a ground stop for American Airlines and other flights were delayed by more than an hour; officials noted all flights faced at least some delay for more than an hour earlier in the day.
The FAA said the problems stemmed from a telecommunications provider serving the air traffic control facility that oversees the Dallas–Fort Worth airspace and not from aging equipment or a nationwide controller shortage that contributed to disruptions at Newark Liberty International Airport earlier this year. The agency emphasized that the modernization of air-traffic control technology is a long-term project, with Congress approving about $12.5 billion in funding and a plan to hire thousands more controllers, but both efforts are expected to take years to be fully realized.
Officials warned delays could continue well into Friday night as the telecom issue was addressed and air traffic control facilities worked to restore normal operations. The disruptions underscore the ongoing challenges facing the FAA's push to modernize the national air-traffic control system, a project that has faced delays due to funding, procurement and integration issues but remains a priority at the federal level.