logo
Why are flights delayed in Phoenix today? Here's what happened at Sky Harbor Airport

Why are flights delayed in Phoenix today? Here's what happened at Sky Harbor Airport

Yahoo08-05-2025

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.
The news you need to start your day. Sign up for AZ Briefing.
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.
Subscribe to azcentral.com today.
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Why are flights delayed in Phoenix today? Here's what happened

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Tears As Delta Pilot Flies Final Flight After 35 Years With the Airline
Tears As Delta Pilot Flies Final Flight After 35 Years With the Airline

Newsweek

time3 hours ago

  • Newsweek

Tears As Delta Pilot Flies Final Flight After 35 Years With the Airline

Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. A video capturing a Delta Air Lines pilot's final flight before retirement after 35 years of service has gone viral on TikTok. The video posted by Lauren Lanoue (@readysetpto) shows her father, Delta captain Steve Wilson, waving out of the cockpit window ahead of his retirement flight on April 11. The moment marks the beginning of Wilson's final round-trip flight from Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) to Orlando Airport (MCO). The clip has drawn 1.7 million views since it was posted on April 22. Lanoue, who lives in Hermosa Beach, California, told Newsweek: "I created and founded my travel blog, Ready, Set PTO, to inspire others to make the most of their vacation days off work and get out and explore the world." "My dad has been a pilot for Delta for 35 years and here he is waving goodbye for his last flight for retirement," reads text overlaid on the video. In a caption shared with the post, Lanoue wrote: "I didn't even know those windows opened until this moment tbh [to be honest]." Wilson, 65, told Newsweek his path to the cockpit was inspired by family and a pivotal decision during college. "My dad was a private pilot and I enjoyed the times flying with him," Wilson said. "However, by the end of my sophomore year at University of Florida I was on a path to get a business degree. I wasn't terribly excited at that prospect and after meeting a buddy's dad, who was a United pilot, I decided to pursue an aviation career." He joined the U.S. Air Force ROTC during his final two years at the University of Florida, was awarded a pilot slot, and served 7.5 years in the Air Force before joining Delta. "I was fortunate to get hired by Delta Air Lines; the rest is history," he said. A screenshot from a viral TikTok video capturing Delta Air Lines pilot Steve Wilson waving from the cockpit window before his final flight with the carrier. A screenshot from a viral TikTok video capturing Delta Air Lines pilot Steve Wilson waving from the cockpit window before his final flight with the carrier. @readysetpto on TikTok Wilson's career finale comes at a time when the aviation profession continues to draw admiration and demand. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported a median salary of $198,100 for pilots in 2024. The BLS also projects a five percent growth in employment for airline and commercial pilots from 2023 to 2033, with about 18,500 openings expected each year—many driven by retirements. The pilot profession was also recently ranked 15th among the "100 Best Jobs" of 2025 by U.S. News & World Report. It placed second among "Best Social Service Jobs" and eighth among "Best Paying Jobs." Memories and the 'Unique Perks' of Being a Pilot Wilson's family deliberately chose a short and manageable flight for his retirement journey. "His final flight was a short and easy one, so that our whole family could easily join him for it despite our busy schedules," Lanoue told Newsweek. Wilson said that some of the most memorable moments of his career came when his family joined him on various trips. "My wife would join me in Amsterdam, London, Paris, New York City and Boston," he said. "My wife and daughters joined me once in Shanghai. My daughter, Lauren, joined me on a plane I was flying to Amsterdam and back, and we explored the city together during the layover. My son was able to fly with me on a delivery flight, when Delta Air Lines takes possession of a new 737-800." Reflecting on his final journey, Wilson shared: "The most memorable flight, however, was my final two legs when my whole family was on board to witness the water cannon salute as we departed Orlando, making some fun P.A. announcements, and getting some great final pictures together." Lanoue fondly recalled growing up with a pilot father. "Not only was he a pilot, but he was also an instructor in the simulators," she told Newsweek. "When he was instructing, he would always make it a priority to be home for family dinner every night. When he was flying, he would always bring us back something special from the cool countries he was visiting." She added that having a Delta pilot as a father came with unique perks: "Our whole family got to fly for free. We started the tradition of always travelling to Europe for Thanksgiving. Instead of the traditional American turkey dinner, we would be eating pizza in Rome, crepes in Paris, or Bratwurst in Munich." Viewers on TikTok were visibly moved by the viral clip. User @DollyForLifeDoll wrote: "Why did this make me tear up??" while @alexa06m simply wrote: "oh hysterical [crying emoji]." Even KLM Royal Dutch Airlines commented, saying: "Who's cutting onions." Others praised Wilson's service, such as user Tanya who said: "wow ...how super proud you must be." Another commenter, @Sherrysmadamarlbassets, noted: "Thank you Captain, for all the years of helping people make memories. enjoy your retirement and make up lost time with family." User @samilovebug1 wrote: "Omg I hope he has a great retirement I'm sure it's well deserved and overdue." User @kgaokgauki shared: "Goodbye Sir and thanks for your service for all those years." Do you have an aviation-related video or story to share? Let us know via life@ and your story could be featured on Newsweek.

Boeing Orders Surge in May as Aircraft Become Key Trade Lever
Boeing Orders Surge in May as Aircraft Become Key Trade Lever

Bloomberg

time3 hours ago

  • Bloomberg

Boeing Orders Surge in May as Aircraft Become Key Trade Lever

Boeing Co. scored the highest monthly order intake in more than a year, including a huge haul during President Donald Trump's trip to the Middle East, giving the US planemaker a commercial boost as it heads into the crucial Paris Air Show next week. The 303-aircraft win was Boeing's largest since December 2023, according to data on its website on Tuesday. The planemaker also delivered 45 aircraft during the month, including 32 jets from its narrowbody 737 family.

What Ending the U.S. Ban on Supersonic Flight Means for the Future of Travel
What Ending the U.S. Ban on Supersonic Flight Means for the Future of Travel

Gizmodo

time9 hours ago

  • Gizmodo

What Ending the U.S. Ban on Supersonic Flight Means for the Future of Travel

Passenger aircraft could fly from New York to Los Angeles in around two hours, but there are still challenges that stand in the way. It's been 22 years since the last flight of the Concorde, a now-retired supersonic airliner that flew at a maximum speed of 1,345 miles per hour (2,179 kilometers per hour). At those speeds, you could fly from London to New York City in around three hours. A long-held U.S. ban on supersonic flight over land limited Concorde's routes and continues to restrict commercial aircraft from flying faster than sound over land. Today, those super speedy—and super loud—flights could be making a comeback. President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Friday to reverse the 1973 ban on civilian supersonic flights, instructing the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to establish a standard for supersonic aircraft noise certification. The decision would make way for faster routes, if companies can figure out ways to make their aircraft quieter and more affordable. When planes fly faster than the speed of sound, Mach 1, or about 767 miles per hour (1,234 kilometers per hour), they create a loud, explosive noise due to the shock waves created by the extreme speeds. It sounds like loud thunder and it would startle people living in cities where supersonic jets fly overhead. As a result, the FAA prohibited supersonic flights of non-military aircraft over land, enacting the measure on April 27, 1973. At the time, aerospace technology wasn't advanced enough to resolve the noise issue; since then, however, research has shown ways to soften the sounds of supersonic flights. Boom, a Colorado-based company, is working on a supersonic airliner, named Boom Overture. Its current prototype, XB-1, is designed to fly at Mach 1.7 while carrying 64 to 80 passengers on board. As the leading U.S. company in the market today, Boom naturally welcomed the decision. In late January, Boom Supersonic flew its experimental aircraft faster than sound for the first time. Boom has seen interest from carriers like American Airlines and United Airlines. Before we get ahead of ourselves, the administration's reversal of the ban came with a set of rules. Trump's executive order directed the FAA to revoke the supersonic speed limit as long as aircraft do not produce an audible sonic boom on the ground. 'The Order instructs the FAA Administrator to establish a standard for supersonic aircraft noise certification that considers community acceptability, economic reasonableness, and technological feasibility,' according to The White House. It also claims that recent developments in aerospace engineering 'make supersonic flight not just possible, but safe, sustainable, and commercially viable.' NASA is working on its own solution to soften the impact of sonic booms. Earlier this year, the agency fired up the engine of its X-59 research aircraft, which is designed to fly faster than sound but with drastically reduced noise. 'People below would hear sonic 'thumps' rather than booms, if they hear anything at all,' NASA wrote in a statement. The plane is designed to reduce the pressure change that flows over the ground, thereby reducing the sound. The X-59's engine is mounted on top of the aircraft, which reduces the amount of noise from the plane that reaches the ground. Aside from the noise, commercial supersonic flight has also been criticized for its negative impact on the environment. Supersonic aircraft consume more fuel. Concorde burned through 22 tons of fuel per hour—twice as much as a Boeing 747, which can carry four times as many passengers, according to Transport & Environment. To help address the negative environmental impact, Boom says its planes will operate on sustainable alternative fuels. That may not fully resolve the issue, as faster planes need to fly at higher altitudes, where the air is thinner and there's less drag and heat generation. At those higher altitudes in Earth's stratosphere, the emissions from the plane would linger up to 20 times longer, according to Aerospace America. NASA says it's working to find solutions for those challenges as well. Supersonic flights are also expensive, with pricey operation costs and premium services at extremely high fares. Concorde, for example, was not considered profitable as the cost of fuel far exceeded the profit made per flight. Airlines hoping to get in on the supersonic action need to figure out a sustainable model to offer customers for a quicker flight. Lifting the ban may have been the first step, but there's still a long way to go before faster routes take off in the skies.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store