The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued a ground stop at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) on Monday, September 14, 2026, due to staffing constraints at Southern California Terminal Radar Approach Control (SCT). The staffing shortage impacted SCT’s ability to manage air traffic at several Southern California airports, including Long Beach, Burbank, Ontario, and smaller regional facilities.
By 9:10 a.m. local time, the FAA announced the ground stop was lifted and normal flight operations at LAX resumed. The temporary pause had affected incoming flights to the airport until the staffing issues could be addressed.
Travelers experienced a brief halt to some
arrivals at LAX, with the FAA advising the public that operations had since returned to normal. In a statement, the FAA said, “Operations are normal at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX). The FAA temporarily paused some flights into Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) due to staffing constraints at Southern California Terminal Radar Approach Control (SCT). You can find real-time airport information at www.fly.faa.gov.”
The cause of the ground stop was identified as staffing shortages at SCT, the facility responsible for air traffic control over multiple Southern California airports. SCT’s oversight includes major and regional airports such as LAX, Long Beach,
Burbank, and Ontario. The FAA continues to monitor operations in the region to avoid further disruptions.
