The Federal Aviation Administration imposed multiple ground stops at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) on September 11, 2026, beginning at 12:08 p.m. Due to severe thunderstorms across metro Atlanta and North Georgia, a second ground stop was issued later in the day. At 6 p.m., the ground stop was replaced by a ground delay program that lasted until 9:59 p.m.
Under the ground delay program, inbound flights to Atlanta faced an average delay of 107 minutes, with some flights delayed up to 271 minutes. Outbound flights from Atlanta experienced an average delay of 75 minutes, and delays continued to increase
throughout the evening. Flights departing from airports within 1,000 nautical miles of ATL also faced revised departure times to manage airport arrivals safely.
Weather Conditions and FAA Protocols
Severe thunderstorms and heavy rain moving across metro Atlanta and North Georgia were the primary cause of the disruptions. The Federal Aviation Administration implemented these ground stops and ground delay programs as safety measures to control the number of flights arriving during periods of adverse weather.
Scope of Affected Flights
The ground delay program affected flights not only arriving at and departing from Atlanta airport but also flights originating at airports within a 1,000 nautical mile radius of ATL. These flights
faced adjusted departure schedules to reduce congestion caused by the storm-related delays at Atlanta’s airport.
The FAA stated that flight arrival and departure delays were increasing due to the ongoing thunderstorms at the facility, impacting air traffic flow throughout the region.
Impact on Travelers on September 11, 2026
Travelers at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport experienced significant delays. Inbound flights to ATL were delayed by an average of 107 minutes with maximum delays reaching 271 minutes. Outbound flights from the airport faced average delays of 75 minutes, complicating travel plans for passengers on that date.
CBS Atlanta reported the ground stop cancellations and continuing flight delays as of
the evening of September 11.
