Nationwide FAA ground stop strands Tennessee football team ahead of Texas A&M game

A nationwide ground stop ordered by the Federal Aviation Administration on Friday afternoon disrupted thousands of flights across the country, leaving the University of Tennessee football team stranded in Knoxville ahead of Saturday’s Southeastern Conference matchup against Texas A&M. The Volunteers were aboard their aircraft on the tarmac in Knoxville Friday afternoon, unable to depart for College Station, Texas, because of the nationwide suspension of departures, according to KBTX-TV in Bryan, Texas. The unexpected delay raised concerns about the team’s travel arrangements ahead of Saturday’s game against the Aggies. The FAA issued the nationwide ground stop at approximately 3:54 p.m. Eastern after a communications failure affected air traffic control facilities across the United States. The agency cited extraordinary circumstances and safety concerns in ordering aircraft awaiting departure to remain on the ground.

This excerpt comes from the named source. Read the original for the full reporting.