Home / Disasters and Accidents / FAA Grounds Flights: Hollywood Insiders Stranded Amidst Busy Travel Weekend
FAA Grounds Flights: Hollywood Insiders Stranded Amidst Busy Travel Weekend
14 Nov
Summary
- FAA halted all US flights for hours due to communications issues.
- Hollywood events like AFM and Governors Awards faced disruption.
- Celebrities and industry professionals were left stranded across the country.
A widespread communications issue prompted the Federal Aviation Administration to halt all U.S. flights for several hours on Friday. This unexpected stoppage severely impacted Hollywood insiders during one of the year's busiest travel periods, with major events like the American Film Market and the Governors Awards scheduled.
Numerous dealmakers found their travel plans disrupted, leading to cancellations and uncertainty for the final days of the American Film Market. Agency sources reported widespread panic as individuals scrambled to determine if they could attend the Governors Awards, with some agents working to assist clients stranded internationally or in neighboring countries.
Celebrities also shared their travel woes, with "Baywatch" star Brooks Nader's private jet reportedly stopped in New York and "Bachelorette" star Kaitlyn Bristowe seen stuck at an airport. Social media posts from Flava Flav and Morgan Fairchild, along with confirmations from Variety, highlighted how the FAA's ground stoppage affected a wide range of individuals.
The FAA announced the nationwide pause around 1 p.m. PT, citing "extraordinary circumstances and for reasons of safety." Later, officials clarified that a "telecommunications outage," not a nefarious attack, was the cause. By approximately 6 p.m. PT, the ground stoppage was officially canceled, allowing flights to resume.
