The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) temporarily halted some flights into Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) and San Diego Airport on the morning of September 14, 2026. This ground stop occurred because of staffing shortages at the Southern California Terminal Radar Approach Control (SCT), which manages the busy Southern California airspace.
Southern California TRACON Airspace and Operational Impact
Southern California TRACON oversees a large and heavily trafficked airspace extending from approximately 20 miles north of Burbank to the U.S.-Mexico border, and from San Bernardino west to Santa Catalina Island. The SCT’s staffing constraints triggered a traffic management program that delayed some arriving flights. The FAA confirmed that these
arrival delays may impact departing flights as well.
Flight Delays and FAA Statements on Operations
Passengers flying to and from LAX and San Diego experienced delays in arrivals and departures during the ground stop. Despite the temporary pauses, the FAA reported that operations at LAX returned to normal following the disruptions. In official statements, the FAA advised travelers that “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.” Additionally, the FAA provided real-time airport updates available at www.fly.faa.gov.
This incident marks at least the fourth recent staffing-related disruption involving
Southern California TRACON affecting LAX facilities, underscoring ongoing challenges in managing this high-traffic airspace.
