Why are flights delayed in Phoenix today? Here's what happened at Sky Harbor Airport
Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport experienced a ground stop on Thursday, May 8, because of a disabled aircraft on the runway, according to the Federal Aviation Administration.
The ground stop, which is when planes cannot take off from an airport, began around 8:30 a.m. and was lifted around 9:45 a.m., according to the FAA's National Airspace System.
The Phoenix airport experienced departure delays averaging 30 minutes because of the ground stop. The departure delay remained in effect until shortly after 10 a.m.
Airlines delayed 142 flights out of Sky Harbor and canceled one flight as of 11:30 a.m. Thursday, according to the flight tracking website FlightAware.
The disabled plane on the runway at Sky Harbor Airport was a Boeing 737-800 jet operating Delta Air Lines Flight 1447, flying to Phoenix from Salt Lake City, according to information from FlightAware and Sky Harbor spokesman Greg Roybal.
The Delta flight "landed and was towed to its gate," Roybal said, requiring the airport to close the runway for about an hour. FlightAware data showed Delta Flight 1447 landed at 8:35 a.m. and was on the runway for 54 minutes.
A spokesperson for Delta told The Arizona Republic that the flight crew reported an issue with the plane's hydraulic system upon landing in Phoenix. The plane landed safely and none of the 154 passengers and six crew were injured.
Delta's maintenance team is evaluating the plane.
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The FAA can order a ground stop when it's not safe for flights to take off or land at an airport.
It can also order a ground delay, which is when flights destined for an airport experiencing adverse conditions must delay their takeoffs, according to the FAA.
The FAA can order a ground delay or ground stop but it does not cancel flights.
Real ID Day 1: Here's how it went for passengers at Sky Harbor Airport
Michael Salerno is an award-winning journalist who's covered travel and tourism since 2014. His work as The Arizona Republic's consumer travel reporter aims to help readers navigate the stresses of traveling and get the best value for their money on their vacations. He can be reached at Michael.Salerno@gannett.com.
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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Why are flights delayed in Phoenix today? Here's what happened
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