DALLAS (KRLD) - UPDATE 2:02 p.m.: Media relations from American Airlines says everything is returning to normal now.
"Several flights en route to Dallas Fort Worth International Airport this afternoon were diverted due to a ground stop at DFW. Operations are now returning to normal. We apologize to our customers for the inconvenience and are working to rebook and re-accommodate customers as quickly as we can," according to a statement.
UPDATE 1:46 p.m.: The controllers are back on position and the airspace is back to full capacity. It will likely take some time to work through the delays. The FAA advises to contact the airlines for specific flight information, including the number of delays and cancellations.
UPDATE 1:27 p.m.: DFW DPS is clearing the remaining smoke from the building. They hope to have controllers back on position within the next 30 minutes. After that, the ground stop will be gradually lifted as the airspace gets back to full volume.
DFW and Love Field are both under a ground stop Wednesday afternoon.
The FAA confirms the ground stop occurred after air traffic controllers were forced to evacuate from the DFW Terminal Radar Approach Control, which manages airspace across most of North Texas, after a report of smoke in the building, possibly from ongoing construction work.
To be clear, this is not the control tower (DFW actually has one on each side of the airfield). It's the big radar room that controls airspace over much of North Texas. All flights coming into – or out of – DFW and Love must pass through the TRACON airspace.
The two control towers at DFW are still staffed and operational. Under their contingency plan, controllers from the radar room are relocating to the control towers at DFW to resume limited service in the affected airspace for both DFW and Dallas Love Field.
The DFW DPS are responding to the alarm, which was declared shortly after 12:30 p.m. Wednesday.
Dallas Love Field later sent out a tweet saying all flights are currently delayed.
All inbound and outbound flights are currently being delayed. We apologize for the inconvenience. If flying this afternoon/evening, confirm your flight's status with your airline.
— Dallas Love Field (@DallasLoveField) February 13, 2019This is a developing news story. Refresh for the latest details.
