The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) temporarily halted some flights arriving at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) and San Diego International Airport on Monday morning, September 14, 2026. The ground stop was caused by staffing shortages at the Southern California Terminal Radar Approach Control (SCT) facility located in San Diego.
Southern California TRACON Airspace Scope
Southern California TRACON (SCT) manages one of the busiest airspaces in the United States. Its jurisdiction covers the region from roughly 20 miles north of Burbank down to the U.S.-Mexico border, and from the San Bernardino area westward to Santa Catalina Island. The SCT facility coordinates air traffic for most airports
across Southern California.
FAA Statements and Traveler Guidance
The FAA acknowledged that the staffing constraints at SCT triggered a traffic management program delaying some arriving flights. As a result, departure schedules at LAX and San Diego may also be affected. The agency advised travelers to verify their flight status directly with airlines. “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 FAA stated.
The FAA confirmed that operations were otherwise normal at LAX aside from the temporary flight pauses. “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 agency added.
Recent Trends in Southern California Flight Disruptions
Monday’s ground stop marks at least the fourth recent incident attributed to staffing disruptions at Southern California FAA facilities that affected LAX operations. The continuing staff shortages at SCT have led to repeated delays and pauses in flights into the region’s busiest airports.
