WINDSOR LOCKS, CT — A nationwide flight halt is affecting departures at Bradley International Airport, Connecticut Airport Authority spokesperson Brian Spyros confirmed to Patch Friday afternoon.
"We are aware of a nationwide ground stop that's currently affecting departures – BDL included," Spyros said in an email to Patch.
"Right now, it's unclear how quickly the matter will be resolved," he said.
Spyros urged anyone flying Friday evening to closely watch their flight's status.
The Federal Aviation Administration told planes at U.S. airports to wait before taking off after a communications problem affected air traffic control centers, NBC Connecticut reported.
The order, called a "ground stop," meant planes waiting to take off had to stay put until the FAA gave further instructions.
Connecticut and New England
Patch contacted officials at Bradley International Airport and Tweed New Haven Airport to ask how the flight halt is affecting travelers.
The nationwide order covers airports throughout New England, including Bradley, Tweed, Boston Logan, Rhode Island T. F. Green and Manchester-Boston Regional. The reports available for this article did not say how many flights at those airports were delayed or canceled because of the order.
Bradley tells travelers to check directly with their airline for updates. Passengers can also check the airport's flight arrivals and departures page.
Why flights were stopped
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said a communications problem affected all of the centers that help guide planes through U.S. airspace, according to NBC Connecticut.
"FAA technicians are investigating the issue," Duffy said in a statement quoted by the station.
The FAA had stopped flights in Chicago before issuing the nationwide order, Reuters reported.
"All departing traffic should remain ground stopped until further notice," the FAA notice said, according to Reuters.
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New York, Philadelphia and Washington
The nationwide order also covers New York's JFK and LaGuardia airports, Newark Liberty, Philadelphia International, Baltimore/Washington, Reagan National and Washington Dulles.
Philadelphia's 6abc reported that the order included Philadelphia International Airport and applied to all airlines. The station said there was no announced time for flights to resume.
The FAA cited "extraordinary circumstances and for reasons of safety," according to 6abc. Flights arriving from other countries would be handled individually, the station reported.
The New York Post reported that the FAA issued the order around 4 p.m. Eastern time.
A separate problem Thursday sent flights to Bradley
Thursday's bad weather had already disrupted flights around New York City. That was a separate event from Friday's nationwide flight halt.
WTNH reported Thursday, in a story republished by AOL, that 11 flights landed at Bradley instead of their planned airports because of severe weather.
Bradley spokesperson Brian Spyros told WTNH at least four came from other countries, including two from Germany. He said Bradley's regular flights were running normally during that Thursday event.
What travelers should know
A ground stop means a plane must wait before taking off. It does not automatically mean the airline has canceled the flight.
The National Business Aviation Association explains that an announced update time is when officials plan to review the stop, not a promise that planes will take off then.
The reports available for this article did not give a confirmed time for the nationwide halt to end or explain what caused the communications problem.
This is a developing story.
For more Northern Connecticut news, follow Patch editor Jay Kenney.
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