FAA ground stop causes thousands of flight delays

We are continuing to follow developments tonight as thousands of flights were delayed by an FAA ground stop impacting hundreds of thousands of travelers across the U.S. and right here in our area. Flights are resuming at this hour after the FAA lifted a nationwide ground stop order. That was around 5:30 our time. The U.S. Department of Transportation cited a communications issue for issuing the stoppage, which delayed nearly 10,000 flights. At last check, 35 flights were canceled and hundreds of others delayed to and from Seattle. Fox 13's Shere Masuzawa was at the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport and talked with some stranded passengers. Surprisingly, things have been pretty calm and quiet here throughout the afternoon, but definitely a lot of relief now that that ground stop has been lifted. And of course, airlines are now working to reschedule so many flights. I'm feeling tired because I've been sitting here waiting. I waited around and then... I prayed. I'm trying to see if I could get where I want to go, my destination. So it doesn't look like I'll be getting there today. So we got rebooked for tomorrow morning. Frustration and disappointment Friday afternoon as travelers at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport learned about the nationwide ground stop. I was working the flight line in Renton when 9/11 happened. We were in disbelief there. And to have something like this happen on Friday the 13th of all days, so... No, it's just it doesn't surprise me. It just doesn't surprise me. And you can't get angry because it's just the way it is. Empty lines at the security checkpoint as folks waited some on the ground, others on their phones. It's a little frustrating, but we understand they have to do, you know, they're they're playing it safe. So We can be grateful for that. Juanita Jameson sat by the security checkpoint with her bags nearby, just in case her flight got canceled. We're kind of in limbo. We don't know if we should get a hotel, you know, should we go? You know, my leg is broke. But for Dustin Wheeler and his family, they decided not to risk a canceled flight. And missed Sunday Seahawks game in Las Vegas. They told us probably till 9 p.m. tomorrow. So we said, screw it, and we're going to drive down 17 hours to Vegas. A few hours later, uncertainty lifted as the FAA lifted the ground stop. And flights began to take off once again. Shere Masuzawa for Fox 13 News. That is dedication there. FOX 13 reached out to Dustin after the ground stop was lifted. He told us he decided to keep driving to Las Vegas rather than risk turning around and getting on a flight.