The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) experienced a regional equipment outage at its Minneapolis air traffic control facility on August 6, 2026, prompting a ground stop at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport (MSP) and delaying flights across Minnesota, Nebraska, Iowa, Michigan, Kansas, Missouri, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wisconsin.
The ground stop at MSP began around 2:00 p.m. local time and was lifted by roughly 4:15 p.m. local time on the same day. Although FAA systems were restored within this period, flight delays and disruptions were expected to extend into the evening while airlines worked to recover operations. The Metropolitan Airports Commission
confirmed that airlines have started resuming some flights at MSP and other affected airports but urged travelers to anticipate ongoing impacts.
Impact on Travelers and Regional Airports
Delta Air Lines flights to Duluth International Airport (DLH) were among those affected by the ground stop. Eppley Airfield in Omaha, Nebraska, also confirmed delays linked to the FAA outage and advised passengers to contact their airlines before arriving at the airport. Travelers across the Midwest states served by MSP and surrounding airports experienced delays, holds, or diversions as a result of the regional control center shutdown.
Cause and Operational Details
The FAA indicated the outage disrupted the Minneapolis regional control center but
did not affect the MSP airport control tower. The agency has not disclosed the cause of the technical failure. FAA officials stated the systems are operational but underscored that residual delays would persist for several hours. The Metropolitan Airports Commission said, “Expect some flight impacts to resume through evening as airlines recover.”
