The Federal Aviation Administration canceled the ground stop at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport on the evening of September 11, 2026. Following this, the FAA implemented a ground delay program from 6:00 p.m. to 9:59 p.m. Flights arriving into Atlanta were delayed on average by 107 minutes, with some delayed as long as 271 minutes. Departing flights experienced an average delay of 75 minutes, and this delay was reported to be increasing as the program remained in effect.
Flight disruptions on September 11 began earlier with multiple ground stops starting at 12:08 p.m., prompted by thunderstorms moving across metro Atlanta and
North Georgia. The severe weather included heavy rain and lightning, causing the FAA to institute these operational restrictions throughout the afternoon. The CBS News Atlanta NEXT Weather team monitored continuous downpours with localized flooding possible.
The ground delay program applied to flights departing from airports within 1,000 nautical miles of Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. The FAA adjusted departure times under this program to manage traffic volume arriving at Atlanta, attempting to reduce congestion caused by weather conditions. Travelers faced delays close to two hours for arrivals and over an hour for departures during the evening hours.
The FAA routinely uses
ground delay programs to regulate inbound air traffic at busy airports like Atlanta during periods of adverse weather. These measures replace ground stops to gradually resume operations while maintaining safe and efficient control of flight scheduling amid disruptive conditions.
