On July 16, 2026, flight operations across the United States were significantly disrupted with 83 cancellations and 3,636 delays reported, primarily affecting airports in Texas, Illinois, Ohio, and Kentucky. Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport registered the highest number of delays with 693 flights delayed, while Reagan National Airport recorded the most cancellations at 19.
The Federal Aviation Administration imposed a ground stop on the afternoon of July 15, 2026, for Dallas-Fort Worth and Dallas Love Field airports due to severe weather conditions. This ground stop was later lifted as conditions improved. Despite raising the ground stop, the airport faced ongoing delays,
with departures held an average of 45 minutes. Heavy thunderstorms, flash flooding, and a tornado near San Antonio, Texas, severely impacted airport operations and led to cascading delays.
American Airlines experienced the greatest operational impact, reporting 577 delays and 7 cancellations. United Airlines reported 311 delays and 13 cancellations, while SkyWest had 292 delays and 4 cancellations. Delta Air Lines registered 273 delays and 3 cancellations. PSA Airlines faced 179 delays and the highest cancellation count among airlines at 19.
Disruptions at Dallas-Fort Worth, a key connecting hub, caused ripple effects across the national aviation network. Chicago O’Hare International Airport
in Illinois also experienced extensive disruptions with 260 delayed flights and 9 cancellations, further spreading flight schedule effects nationwide. Washington’s Reagan National Airport accounted for 19 cancellations and 173 delays, while Seattle-Tacoma International Airport reported 115 delays and 3 cancellations. Minneapolis-Saint Paul recorded 87 delays and 4 cancellations.
Heavy rainfall in Texas’s Hill Country west of San Antonio exceeded 12 inches, prompting flash flood warnings and evacuations due to flooding. The National Weather Service confirmed a tornado touchdown near Interstate 10 in northwestern San Antonio. These weather events contributed to the FAA’s ground stop and ongoing operational challenges for airlines.
The severe conditions disrupted travel plans for passengers using major Texas airports as well as key hubs in Illinois, Ohio, and Kentucky, impacting schedules across American Airlines, United Airlines, Delta, SkyWest, and PSA Airlines flights nationwide.
