Smoke alarm at DFW airport FAA facility causes delays, diverted flights

LUBBOCK, TX (KCBD) - Travelers from at least three cities got to experience Lubbock’s Preston Smith International Airport Wednesday afternoon, despite not being scheduled to land here.

A smoke alarm at an FAA facility at DFW International Airport caused a number of diversions and delays across the region.

The FAA says the alarm was declared just before 12:30 p.m. at their DFW Terminal Radar Approach Control (TRACON) center, a ground facility that manages airspace above Dallas and Fort Worth and monitors the two major airports in the region, DFW and Dallas Love Field.

Because of the alarm, a ground stop was put into place at both airports, causing the chain of diversions.

At least three American Airlines flights landed in Lubbock while the ground stop was in place. Flight 5999 from Durango, Colorado, Flight 2420 from Albuquerque and 1887 from Phoenix all arrived during the stop. Each was scheduled to depart for DFW airport by mid-afternoon.

Southwest Airlines flight 29 from Lubbock to Love Field was diverted to Oklahoma City during the stop. It is currently set to depart for Dallas at 2:20 p.m.

The FAA said the stop was lifted just after 1:45 p.m. Spokesman Lynn Lunsford said it will take time for the FAA, airports and airlines to work through the delays. Lunsford said passengers should check with their airlines for specific flight information.

Click on the links below to see your flight status:

AMERICAN AIRLINES

SOUTHWEST AIRLINES