The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued a ground stop for inbound flights to Nashville International Airport starting at 8 p.m. CDT on July 21, 2026. The ground stop was extended until 11 p.m. CDT the same evening and applies only to flights destined for Nashville that had not departed their origin airports at the time the stop was issued. Departing flights from Nashville International Airport are not affected.
Thunderstorms Disrupt Arrivals From Multiple Air Traffic Control Centers
Severe thunderstorms moving through Middle Tennessee prompted the FAA’s Air Traffic Control System Command Center to impose the ground stop. The stoppage affects inbound flights managed by six air traffic control centers:
Atlanta, Houston, Fort Worth, Kansas City, Memphis, and Indianapolis. A Code Red Weather Alert remains in effect across Middle Tennessee as the storms persist.
Passenger delays average 26 minutes, with some reaching up to 45 minutes. The FAA warns of a medium probability that the ground stop could be extended further based on evolving weather conditions. This operational response aims to maintain air traffic safety and efficiency during the adverse weather affecting the region.
