Ground Stops Disrupt Travel at DFW Airports Amid FAA Phone System Glitch
On September 19, 2025, Dallas saw two major airports—Dallas Love Field (DAL) and Dallas-Fort Worth International (DFW)—grapple with a severe travel setback. A critical telecommunications failure struck, and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) acted fast. Controllers lost radar and phone links. This loss forced ground stops for departures and arrivals in Dallas.
The Incident and Its Impact
At about 4 p.m. local time, the FAA found a fault. The fault came from a telephone company’s equipment. That fault broke the communication at the Dallas Terminal Radar Approach Control (TRACON) facility. TRACON controls flight arrivals and departures at both DFW and Love Field. With radar and phone links gone, controllers stopped all flights to keep everyone safe.
The halt at Love Field came off briefly. Soon, the problem returned before 6:30 p.m. The FAA said the fault came from outside its own systems. It worked with the telephone company to find the cause. Other nearby airports—like Fort Worth Alliance, McKinney National, and Fort Worth Meacham International—faced similar stops. It is not clear if the same fault caused all these issues.
Scale and Significance
DFW ranks as the third busiest U.S. airport. It handles about 1,900 flights daily and serves nearly 200,000 passengers each day. Love Field, home to Southwest Airlines’ headquarters and only 15 miles from DFW, also plays a major role. When TRACON at DFW lost its links, the whole Dallas flight network felt the shock.
An air traffic controller at Love Field recorded his words on LiveATC.net. He said, “No radar. No phone.” Then he paused all departures until systems came back. The event shows how much air traffic depends on steady phone and radar ties.
Responses and Broader Context
Texas Senator Ted Cruz told local residents that the FAA and local teams were on the case. He urged patience during the delays. At the same time, weather turned bad with rain in Dallas. This rain made travel even harder.
In a twist, the FAA did not tie the outage to a Guinness World Record event. In that event, Walmart and rapper Cardi B led a one-hour delivery of 176 drone drop-offs. The feat made headlines. Still, the FAA found no link between the record and the telecom failure.
What's Next for Travelers
Officials expected it would take hours to restore communication and normal flights. Passengers using DFW or Love Field were told to check for news from their airlines. They should plan for wait times. The issue shows why strong backup links matter. They help avoid a spiral of problems when main systems go down.
Conclusion
Ground stops at Dallas’ airports on September 19, 2025, show how fragile our air travel can be. Millions count on steady, safe flights every day. Making sure we have strong, reliable communication is key. Quick FAA steps and close work with the phone company helped calm the crisis. This case reminds travelers and experts that tight, clear links are vital in keeping our skies safe and our flights on track.