The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued a ground stop at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) on Monday, September 14, 2026, due to a staffing shortage at Southern California Terminal Radar Approach Control (SCT). The ground stop affected inbound flights as SCT manages radar approach services for LAX and several other Southern California airports.
By 9:10 a.m. Pacific Time on September 14, the FAA lifted the ground stop at LAX, with flight operations returning to normal. The temporary restriction was in place to address the staffing constraints impacting SCT’s ability to manage aircraft approach and landing sequencing efficiently.
FAA Statement and Traveler Information
The FAA confirmed
the ground stop was prompted by staffing challenges at SCT, which oversees radar approach control for LAX and nearby airports. In an official announcement, 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.”
Travelers were encouraged to monitor real-time updates from official FAA channels during the ground stop to stay informed about flight status changes.
Role of Southern California Terminal Radar Approach Control
Southern California Terminal Radar Approach Control is responsible for managing
air traffic at multiple Southern California airports. In addition to LAX, SCT provides radar approach services for Long Beach Airport, Burbank Airport, Ontario Airport, and smaller regional airports within the region. The staffing constraints at SCT temporarily limited its capacity to safely sequence and clear inbound flights to these airports, prompting the FAA’s ground stop at LAX.
