Stranded travelers  frustrated by FAA shut down

CHEEKTOWAGA, N.Y. (WBEN)......Jill Robertson was headed to Orlando to take her three-year-old son to Disney.

James Boomheller just wanted to get back home to Providence, R.I.

Jennifer Sweeny was concerned about missing her cruise bound for Jamica.

And, Katie Cosner was bound for California after spending a week visiting relatives.

All four - and many others - were the face, the human element to Friday's rare national shutdown of all air traffic by the FAA. They were among the hundreds stranded at Buffalo Niagara International Airport.

The national shutdown - the first since 2023 and only the second since the 9/11 attacks in 2001 - was attributed to "communications issues."

In Buffalo and across the country - the shutdown that took place late Friday afternoon - left millions of air travelers stranded and scrambling for alternate ways to make their way to their respective destinations.

Some were philosphocial.

Others frustrated and mad.

Concern and angst was one of the common threads among stranded travelers at the Buffalo airport.

"No one could have predicted this," Boomheller said.

Boomheller's solution: He was renting a carand driving back to Providence.

"At least weather is not an issue,," he said.

Jennifer Sweeney was beyond frustrated.

Sweeney was Miami-bound and then headed on a week-long cruise to Jamica, with the ship leaving Saturday afternnon.

"I'll be really pissed off if I miss the cruise - and, they said they won't refund my money," Sweeney said.

Jill Robertson was more concerned about trying to explain the delay to her son, who wanted to meet Mickey Mouse.

"You try and explain this to a three-year old,": Robertson said while standing in a lengthy line by Southwest Airlines.

David Brown, who drove from Grimsby, Ont. and was headed to Atlantic City, was less than pleased.

Brown arrived at the airport at 1 p.m. for his 5 p.m. flight, only to find out by 4 p.m., it had been grounded.

"All I've done is sit here, go outside for a smoke and just hang out," Brown said. "I feel like a lost puppy."

Katie Cosner was more open minded about her traveling dilemma.

Being waylaid in Buffalo means she will miss a chili cook-off Cosner was scheduled to take part in on Saturday night.

Cosner hopes to be her California home by later Saturday.

"I'm just taking it all in stride," Cosner said. "No one could have expected this."