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The ground stop was issued earlier this afternoon and has been extended.
22:37, Thu, Aug 6, 2026 Updated: 22:37, Thu, Aug 6, 2026
Aerial view of Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport (file picture) (Image: Getty)
A ground stop was issued this afternoon at the Minneapolis-St Paul International Airport due to a "regional FAA equipment outage", the Metropolitan Airports Commission said. The ground stop was issued by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for the major airport in the Minnesota city at around 2pm local time.
The stop has since been extended to 4.15pm local time. The flights affected are those set to depart, while airport officials said some "limited arrivals" are scheduled, although they advised passengers to check with their airlines.
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Miami passenger says flight was delayed, deplaned and then reboarded
One passenger has described the disruption caused by the FAA equipment outage, saying their journey to Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport has already been significantly delayed.
Posting on X, Felipe Cepeda said:
"Flight was supposed to depart from MIA to MSP 2:37. We're on tarmac 1.5hr ago, deplaned, now back on the plan[e] heading to MSP."
The account has not been independently verified, but it provides an indication of the disruption some travellers are experiencing as the ground stop remains in place.
Flight was supposed to depart from MIA to MSP 2:37. We're on tarmac 1.5hr ago, deplaned, now back on the plan heading to MSP.
\u2014 Felipe Cepeda (@Felipecepe10) August 6, 2026Planes left waiting on tarmac during ground stop
A FOX 9 photographer reported seeing several aircraft left stationary on the tarmac at Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport after a ground stop was imposed because of the FAA equipment outage.
The broadcaster said planes began departing again from around 4pm local time, before MSP later confirmed the issue had been resolved, although passengers are warned to expect disruption to continue through the evening as airlines recover.
Flights begin resuming after FAA equipment outage
Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport says airlines are beginning to resume some operations following the FAA equipment outage that disrupted flights earlier today.
However, the airport has warned passengers to expect some delays and other impacts to continue through the evening as airlines recover, and is urging travellers to check with their airline for the latest flight information.
Airlines are beginning to resume some operations at MSP and other airports after FAA equipment outage. Expect some flight impacts to resume through evening as airlines recover. Contact airlines for latest flight status. https://t.co/uNK1OE9z7G
\u2014 MSP Airport (@mspairport) August 6, 2026Get the latest news from around the world and more Invalid email
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FAA warns ground stop could be extended
The FAA has indicated there is a chance the disruption could continue beyond the current end time.
According to information published on the agency's traffic management website, the ground stop is currently expected to remain in place until 4.15pm local time, but there is a 30% to 60% probability it will need to be extended.
Passengers are continuing to be advised to check with their airline before travelling.
Flights from several Midwestern states affected
Flights bound for Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport from across the Midwest are also being impacted by the FAA equipment outage.
According to KSTP, aircraft travelling from parts of Iowa, Michigan, Kansas, Missouri, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wisconsin are being either held or diverted while only limited arrivals are allowed into MSP.
What is a ground stop?
A ground stop is an air traffic management measure used by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to temporarily prevent aircraft from departing for a particular airport.
It is typically introduced when there is a safety issue, severe weather, equipment failure or another problem that limits the airport's ability to safely handle arriving and departing flights.
Aircraft that have already landed can usually continue to disembark passengers, while flights due to depart may be held at the gate until the restriction is lifted. In some cases, a limited number of arrivals may still be allowed if air traffic controllers can safely accommodate them.
Ground stops can last from a few minutes to several hours depending on the nature of the disruption, and airlines often warn passengers that delays may continue even after the restriction is lifted as schedules recover.
Airbus A350 (Image: Getty)
MSP Airport issues passenger advice
MSP Airport has confirmed that a regional FAA equipment outage is affecting flights and urged passengers to check directly with their airline for the latest information.
In a post on X, the airport said: "A regional FAA equipment outage is impacting flights at MSP. A ground stop is in effect for departures, with some limited arrivals. Contact your airline for the latest flight information."
The airport has not yet provided an update on when normal operations are expected to resume.
A regional FAA equipment outage is impacting flights at MSP. A ground stop is in effect for departures, with some limited arrivals. Contact your airline for the latest flight information.
\u2014 MSP Airport (@mspairport) August 6, 2026Welcome to our live coverage
Welcome to our live coverage of the disruption at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport after a regional FAA equipment outage prompted a ground stop on Thursday afternoon.
The Federal Aviation Administration issued the stop at around 2pm local time, with departures halted and only limited arrivals operating. We'll bring you the latest official updates, travel advice and developments as they happen.
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