The Federal Aviation Administration lifted the ground stop at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport on September 11, 2026, after it began at 12:08 p.m. Eastern Time. The FAA replaced the ground stop with a ground delay program in effect from 6 p.m. until 9:59 p.m. to manage air traffic at the airport.
Flight Delay Durations
Flights arriving at Atlanta under the delay program experienced an average delay of 107 minutes, with some delays reaching as long as 271 minutes. Departing flights encountered an average delay of 75 minutes, and these delays continued to increase as the evening progressed.
Geographic Scope and Delay Controls
The ground delay program impacted flights
departing from airports within 1,000 nautical miles of Atlanta. Revised departure times were assigned to these flights to limit and control the number of planes arriving at Hartsfield-Jackson during the restricted hours.
Multiple ground stops took effect throughout the day starting at 12:08 p.m. local time, implementing additional restrictions in the afternoon as traffic congestion worsened.
Cause of Disruptions and Weather Impact
Thunderstorms moving over metro Atlanta and North Georgia prompted the initial ground stop and ongoing flight disruptions. The CBS Atlanta NEXT Weather team reported heavy rain and thunderstorms in the region, which also raised concerns about localized flooding due to downpours.
Traveler Impact
Travelers at Hartsfield-Jackson
faced substantial delays both arriving and departing, with some flights delayed nearly two hours or more. Delays persisted even after the ground stop was lifted, contributing to extended wait times on September 11.
