The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) implemented a ground stop on the morning of September 16, 2026, temporarily pausing some flights arriving at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) and San Diego International Airport. The halt was caused by staffing constraints at Southern California Terminal Radar Approach Control (SCT), which manages a large portion of Southern California airspace.
Southern California TRACON Airspace and Flight Impact
Southern California TRACON (SCT), headquartered in San Diego, covers airspace extending from about 20 miles north of Burbank south to the U.S.-Mexico border, and from the San Bernardino area west to Santa Catalina Island. It oversees one of the busiest airspaces in the United
States. The staffing limitations at SCT delayed arriving flights at both LAX and San Diego airports. As a result, departure schedules at LAX may also experience disruptions due to the arrival delays, although the agency noted operations were otherwise normal.
FAA Guidelines and Recent Staffing Disruptions
The FAA advised travelers, “Because a traffic management program is delaying some arriving flights, departing flight schedules may be affected. Check with your airline to determine if your flight is affected.” The agency also pointed to www.fly.faa.gov for real-time airport information and reaffirmed that operations remain normal at LAX despite the temporary pauses. Monday’s ground stop marks at least the
fourth recent episode of staffing disruptions at Southern California TRACON affecting LAX operations.
