San Francisco International Airport experienced multiple Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) ground stops on November 9, 2026, due to dense fog and low clouds. By approximately 10:30 a.m. Pacific Time, 187 flights were delayed and three flights were canceled at the airport, creating significant disruption to operations.
FAA Implements Multiple Ground Stops and Delays
The first major ground stop began shortly before 8 a.m. Pacific Time and was lifted around 9:15 a.m. However, ground delay programmes remained active to control arriving flights. Additional ground stops affecting flights headed to San Francisco occurred around 10:28 a.m. and shortly before noon. These restrictions also caused select departures at other US
airports to be held before departure to prevent congestion in San Francisco’s airspace. During the disruption, arriving flights faced average delays of about 63 minutes.
Fog and Low Visibility Shrink Airport Capacity
The flight disruptions were driven by dense fog and low cloud cover reducing visibility over San Francisco Bay. Around 8 a.m., visibility at the airport dropped to nearly 0.13 miles. The National Weather Service issued a dense fog advisory warning that visibility along the bay shoreline might fall to a quarter mile. Even as surface visibility improved later in the morning, persistent low clouds continued to restrict flight operations, requiring the FAA to maintain ground
delay programmes.
Operational Effects on Flights and Passengers
Reduced visibility forced air traffic controllers to apply low-visibility operating procedures and increased spacing between aircraft, lowering the number of flights that the airport could process. This led to FAA ground stops that temporarily held departures bound for San Francisco at other airports. Passengers on these flights encountered delays and cancellations, with disruptions observed as early as the start of the day. Airlines and passengers managing connections through San Francisco likely had to accommodate the extended delays caused by these measures.
San Francisco Airport’s Vulnerability to Fog
San Francisco International Airport is especially prone to coastal fog due to its location adjacent to San
Francisco Bay. The FAA ground stops are temporary traffic management tools that limit arrivals and departures to maintain safety under restricted visibility. These measures, while disruptive, allow controlled flow of air traffic rather than full airport closure. On November 9, 2026, the FAA identified low ceilings and reduced visibility as the key factors that necessitated these ground stops and delay programmes.
