Ontario and San Bernardino airports ground all departures after FAA order
Nationwide safety stop halts 61 flights at Ontario and roughly half of San Bernardino operations on Friday evening.
By Harper Foster ·
Travelers at Ontario International Airport and San Bernardino International Airport faced immediate disruptions when the Federal Aviation Administration ordered a nationwide ground stop for all departing flights. The order took effect at 2 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 13, leaving passengers waiting on the ground as airlines suspended takeoffs.
Steve Lambert, a spokesperson for Ontario International Airport, confirmed via email that the airport was monitoring the situation closely. He noted that all departing flights were grounded for the time being. By 6 p.m. on Friday, Lambert reported 61 delays and 42 cancellations at the airport. Ontario typically handles 90 departures and 90 arrivals daily and serves approximately 7 million passengers this year.
The stoppage also affected military operations. A Department of War employee at March Air Reserve Base near Riverside stated that the FAA's Notice to Airmen applied to military flights. The official confirmed that no aircraft were moving until further notice. March Air Reserve Base is home to the 452nd Air Mobility Wing, which operates air tankers and cargo or troop transport aircraft.
This ground stop is rare in recent memory. Mark Gibbs, director of Aviation for San Bernardino International Airport, described the event as atypical. He recalled a similar instance in 2023 when an FAA equipment issue caused a stoppage. Before that, Gibbs said he could only recall the shutdown following the attacks on Sept. 11, 2001.
On Jan. 11, 2023, an FAA computer system used to distribute safety information to pilots went offline, triggering a previous ground stop. The FAA cited extraordinary circumstances and safety reasons for the current order. Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin told the Associated Press there was no indication yet of a nefarious act behind the communications issue.
San Bernardino International Airport serves an average of 200 flights daily, including 25 commercial operations. Gibbs estimated that approximately 50% of those flights would be canceled on Friday evening. Passengers at both airports were encouraged to check with their airlines for the latest flight information as the ground stop remained in effect.
The FAA issued the ground stop to ensure safety across the national airspace. The decision impacts both commercial and military aircraft, halting departures at major regional hubs in Southern California. Airport officials continue to provide updates as the situation develops.
