The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) experienced an equipment outage at its Minneapolis air traffic control facility on August 7, 2026, causing ground stops and flight delays across multiple airports including Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport and Eppley Airfield.
Regional Impact Across Midwest
The outage affected flights arriving and departing across a broad area comprising Minnesota, Nebraska, Iowa, Michigan, Kansas, Missouri, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wisconsin. Numerous flights were either held on the ground or rerouted due to disrupted FAA systems responsible for controlling air traffic in this Midwestern region.
Passenger Delays and Airport Operations
Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport confirmed a ground stop via its social media channels during the
outage. Eppley Airfield officials in Omaha also reported flight delays and operational disruptions. Airlines have started to resume limited operations at the affected airports, but travelers could face delays continuing into the evening of August 7.
Passengers traveling through the impacted airports were advised to confirm status updates with their respective airlines before heading to terminals. Both MSP and Eppley remain actively affected by the operational delays stemming from the FAA control center outage.
FAA Response and System Status
The FAA clarified that the disruption involved a control center linked to Minneapolis, not the airport tower at Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport itself. Systems at the
Minneapolis air traffic control facility were reported restored, though delays persisted for several hours afterward. The FAA has not identified the cause of the equipment failure responsible for the disruption.
