The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) implemented temporary ground stops on some arriving flights into Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) and San Diego Airport on the morning of September 16, 2026. These measures were due to staffing shortages at Southern California Terminal Radar Approach Control (SCT), which manages the region’s busy airspace.
Scope and Importance of Southern California TRACON
Southern California TRACON (SCT), located in San Diego, controls air traffic across a large area extending from roughly 20 miles north of Burbank south to the U.S.-Mexico border and from the San Bernardino region westward to Santa Catalina Island. This facility oversees one of the busiest airspaces in the
United States, handling traffic for most airports in Southern California.
FAA Statements and Traveler Impact
The FAA acknowledged that a traffic management program was delaying some arriving flights, which could subsequently affect departing flight schedules at LAX and San Diego. The agency stated, “Operations are normal at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX). The FAA temporarily paused some flights into Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) due to staffing constraints at Southern California Terminal Radar Approach Control (SCT). You can find real-time airport information at www.fly.faa.gov.” The FAA further advised travelers that “departing flight schedules may be affected” and recommended verifying flight status with airlines directly.
Exact
numbers of delayed or canceled flights and the duration of the ground stops were not disclosed by the FAA. However, this event marks at least the fourth recent incident involving staffing disruptions at SCT impacting LAX operations.
