Equipment Issues Cause Major Flight Delays in North Texas (2025)

An unexpected ground stop on Friday at Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport and Dallas Love Field disrupted travel for hundreds of passengers, with more than half of the scheduled flights delayed or canceled.

The Federal Aviation Administration blamed the halt on a local telephone equipment outage that began early in the afternoon. The issue affected flight operations, leaving travelers stranded in terminals and on planes for hours.

Passengers stranded, plans upended

Among those affected was a mother from Allen, Texas, who was headed to Florida to visit her son serving in the military.

"I haven't seen him in about 10 months," she said. "Sadly, all the flights tomorrow are booked also, so I'll be missing my weekend with him."

Six hours after her flight was canceled, she was still waiting to retrieve her checked baggage.

Flights diverted, delays stretch for hours

The outage not only halted departures and arrivals—it also forced some flights to divert to other airports. One passenger from Columbus, Ohio, said her first solo flight turned into a seven-hour ordeal after her plane was rerouted to Oklahoma.

"It was supposed to be a two-and-a-half-hour flight," she said. "People were annoyed. Some almost drove home."

Baggage in Charlotte, passengers in limbo

The disruption also affected international travelers. A group of 24 passengers headed to the Caribbean had their flight canceled and their baggage sent ahead to Charlotte, North Carolina. The next available flight to Turks and Caicos from DFW isn't until Sunday.

The group is now trying to reach Oklahoma City overnight to catch an early morning flight—but they need a van or bus, as no rental cars are available.

• DFW Airport
• Dallas Love Field
• Texas
• Flight Delays
• North Texas