ATLANTA — 11Alive started getting emails from travelers Monday saying Florida flights were delayed. Then Miami International Airport stated there was a nationwide ground stop to and from airports in Florida.
The Federal Aviation Administration confirmed it slowed volume into Florida airspace while the issue was being resolved. The issue lies with a computer system at the air traffic centers that handles en route traffic.
Airports across Florida like Ft. Lauderdale, Palm Beach, Tampa and Miami were all affected as travelers here in Atlanta tried to get to Florida Monday night.
At first we were told the delays were only an hour or so but when we got to Hartsfield-Jackson, we found several Spirit flights were canceled. Those passengers were sent to stand in a long line that wrapped around the back wall, for canceled Florida flights.
Tatiana Berejuk said she was trying to travel with her entire family back home to Tampa.
“We’re 8," Berejuk said. "Four small kids and we’re pretty much stranded now without a car, a withouth hotel and we don’t know when we’ll be back."
"I don’t know what it looks like," she said. "If we’re gonna have a flight tomorrow or anytime soon."
Regular Palencia and his family were headed home to Miami when their flight was canceled.
“We don’t want to get in trouble with our jobs, we’re very responsible. That’s the only thing we worry about,” said Palencia.
The FAA said the issue is resolved, and flights are taking off again. However, they’re still dealing with the ripple effect of all of this, until airlines catch up.