Federal Aviation Administration officials issued a ground stop at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) on the morning of Monday, September 14, 2026, caused by staffing shortages at the Southern California Terminal Radar Approach Control (SCT), also known as Southern California TRACON.
Southern California TRACON is responsible for managing air traffic for LAX as well as Long Beach Airport, Burbank Airport, Ontario Airport, and several smaller regional airports. The staffing constraints at SCT led to a temporary pause in flight departures and arrivals at LAX.
Ground Stop Lifted, Operations Return to Normal
The FAA lifted the ground stop by 9:10 a.m. local time, and operations at Los Angeles
International Airport returned to normal shortly thereafter. The temporary halt affected flights inbound and outbound at LAX, with the agency confirming that no further issues remained following the resolution of staffing limitations.
Traveler Information and FAA Advisory
The Federal Aviation Administration advised travelers about the temporary pause, highlighting staffing constraints at Southern California TRACON as the cause. The FAA stated, “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 ground stop underscored
the operational role Southern California TRACON plays in overseeing multiple Southern California airports, including Long Beach, Burbank, and Ontario, alongside smaller regional airfields.
