The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) temporarily paused some arriving flights on the morning of Monday, September 14, 2026, at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) and San Diego International Airport. The ground stop was triggered by staffing constraints at Southern California Terminal Radar Approach Control (SCT), according to FAA statements.
Southern California TRACON manages one of the busiest airspaces in the United States, covering an area from about 20 miles north of Burbank extending south to the U.S.-Mexico border and spanning westward from the San Bernardino area to Santa Catalina Island. The SCT oversees flight operations for multiple Southern California airports,
including LAX and San Diego.
Impact on Flight Operations
Arriving flights at LAX and San Diego experienced delays due to a traffic management program linked to the SCT staffing shortage. These delays in arrivals potentially disrupted some departing flight schedules at both airports. The FAA urged travelers to verify with their airlines whether specific flights were affected by the ground stop.
This incident marks at least the fourth recent staffing-related disruption at Southern California facilities that has impacted operations at LAX. The FAA attributed this ground stop directly to ongoing staffing shortages at the Southern California TRACON.
FAA Official Statements and Traveler Information
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.”
Additionally, the FAA advised, “Because a traffic management program is delaying some arriving flights, departing flight schedules may be affected. Check with your airline to determine if your flight is affected.”
