The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) temporarily paused some flights into Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) and San Diego International Airport on Monday morning, September 16, 2026, due to staffing constraints at Southern California Terminal Radar Approach Control (SCT).
Southern California TRACON Airspace Coverage
Southern California TRACON (SCT) covers an airspace from about 20 miles north of Burbank to the U.S.-Mexico border, and from the San Bernardino area west to Santa Catalina Island. SCT manages most airports in Southern California, including the heavily trafficked LAX and San Diego International Airport, overseeing one of the busiest airspaces in the country.
Flight Delays and Operational Status
The staffing constraints led to a traffic
management program delaying some arriving flights into LAX and San Diego, with possible effects on departing flight schedules. Passengers were advised by the FAA to check with their airlines to determine if their flights were impacted.
The FAA 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.”
This incident was at least the fourth recent Southern California staffing disruption affecting LAX flight operations. The FAA did not
provide details on the duration of the ground stop or the number of flights affected.
