...
By Shane Croucher and Sophie Clark
0
Share
Newsweek is a Trust Project member
See more of our trusted coverage when you search.Prefer Newsweek on Googleto see more of our trusted coverage when you search.
Flights were halted at Chicago's two largest airports on Friday morning after the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) ordered a ground stop due to severe weather.
The restrictions were implemented at O'Hare International Airport and Midway International Airport at around 5 a.m. CT due to thunderstorms in Illinois. They remained in place until around 8 a.m. CT.
Newsweek has contacted the Chicago Department of Aviation for comment.
Read More
US Sends ‘Nuke Sniffer’ Plane on Western Pacific Mission3 min read
Video Shows Military Pilots Ejecting After Aircraft Collision3 min read
Supersonic Flight Could Link London to New York in 3.5 Hours8 min read
...
Why It Matters
Chicago's O'Hare airport is among the ten busiest airports in the world, so even minor delays can impact thousands of passengers.
The airport was the fifth busiest in the U.S. in 2023 with 35.8 million boarding passengers, according to FAA data.
Meanwhile, Midway airport was the 30th busiest in the U.S. in 2023, with 10.6 million boarding passengers.
What To Know
Flights were grounded at O'Hare and Midway airports early on Friday morning due to thunderstorms.
The National Weather Service (NWS) warned of "lingering storms," which could cause "pea-sized hail and gusty winds," as well as thunder and lightning.
The NWS also issued a gale warning for Chicago for Friday afternoon, which is set to continue until early Saturday morning.
The agency said that "strong winds and hazardous waves" will be experienced along the Chicago shoreline on Friday.
"Mariners should alter plans to avoid these hazardous conditions. Remain in port, seek safe harbor, alter course, and/or secure the vessel for hazardous conditions," it said.
Ground stops are the most restrictive measures that air traffic controllers can implement.
"Ground stops are implemented when air traffic control is unable to safely accommodate additional aircraft in the system," the National Business Aviation Association states.
They do not always apply to all planes, and air traffic controllers can determine which flights are impacted by them.
What Happens Next
The restrictions on Friday morning will have knock-on effects for flights throughout the day, and will likely cause significant delays.
View 0 Comments
Submit Correction
View Editorial & AI Guidelines