The Federal Aviation Administration imposed a ground stop at Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport today, September 18, 2026, lasting nearly two hours. This air traffic control measure paused all flight operations at the airport during this period.
The suspension of flight movements resulted in significant disruptions at O’Hare, which recorded the highest number of flight cancellations worldwide on this date. Flight activity was paused, causing major operational interruptions throughout the nearly two-hour stoppage.
Travelers at O’Hare faced numerous flight cancellations and delays as a direct effect of the FAA ground stop. Compared to other airports globally, O’Hare experienced the most extensive
disruptions due to the halt in air traffic control operations.
