The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued a ground stop on Tuesday morning, August 11, 2026, for flights destined to Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport and Midway Airport. The order halted departures from certain U.S. airports aimed at Chicago until 11:15 a.m. Central Time for O’Hare and at least until 11:30 a.m. for Midway.
Severe storms moving through Illinois and Indiana prompted the FAA action. These storms included extreme wind gusts reaching speeds of up to 100 miles per hour, brief tornadoes, and heavy rainfall. The dangerous weather conditions caused widespread damage including downed trees and power lines, leading to flood warnings
across the Chicago area.
The Chicago Department of Aviation confirmed that Midway Airport’s control tower was temporarily evacuated during the storms for safety reasons. Following the lifting of the ground stop, O’Hare Airport remained under a ground delay program managed by the FAA, which was scheduled to continue until 10 p.m. Central Time on the same day.
The combined effect of the ground stop and the ongoing ground delay program disrupted flight schedules significantly. Flights departing for Chicago from various U.S. locations were paused, and passengers encountered delays and cancellations at both O’Hare and Midway airports as flights were rescheduled
in response to storm conditions.
The FAA indicated the possibility of extending the ground stop depending on the progression of storm conditions. The Chicago Department of Aviation’s confirmation of the Midway tower evacuation emphasized the severity of the storms impacting airport operations. The ground stop and delays marked a significant disruption to air travel in Chicago on August 11, 2026.
