The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued a second ground stop on September 11, 2026 at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport due to severe thunderstorms. The ground stop was later canceled and replaced by a ground delay program set to remain active from 6:00 p.m. until 9:59 p.m., limiting the number of flights arriving into the airport.
Flights arriving at Atlanta faced average delays of 107 minutes, with the longest delay recorded at 271 minutes. Departing flights experienced an average delay of 75 minutes, with delays increasing throughout the day. The delay program affected flights departing from airports within 1,000 nautical miles
of Atlanta.
The disruptions were caused by a series of severe thunderstorms moving across metro Atlanta and North Georgia. Heavy rainfall and thunderstorms produced hazardous conditions, including localized flooding, which contributed to airport operational restrictions and multiple FAA ground stops throughout the day.
Travelers experienced significant wait times with lengthy delays both inbound and outbound at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta. The FAA coordinated the shift from ground stops to the ground delay program to better control air traffic volume during these adverse weather conditions. Departure delays were anticipated to increase in the afternoon as storms progressed.
Multiple ground stops were issued over
the course of September 11, 2026 as deteriorating weather conditions persisted, disrupting air travel at one of the busiest U.S. airports. The ongoing thunderstorms and heavy rain continued to impact flights and airport operations in the metro Atlanta and North Georgia region.
