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Confusion struck the Philadelphia International Airport on Friday after the Federal Aviation Administration declared a rare nationwide ground stop.
Natalie Leverone had already boarded her American Airlines flight home to Cincinnati, Ohio, when she saw news of the national groundstop on her phone.
“Everything was going very well,” she said. “We got on the plane, and then we got a message that there was a ground stop, and it was very cryptic because it sounds like they don’t know what’s going on.”
She and multiple other passengers on the flight were working to book rental cars online to try to drive to Cincinnati instead. Information was coming in from national news outlets, before announcements were made on the aircraft. Passengers played videos from CNN on their phones.
“I think at first they weren’t going to let us off,” Leverone said, “but then the pilot came on and said that it’s going to be at least six hours before they know anything.”
Christopher Marren is local to the area. He was on the same flight to visit a friend.
“Obviously, nobody has any idea what’s going on,” Marren said. “And then you know, as time goes on, you hear more, you hear more about it, you see more news articles.”
Marren could only speculate about the situation.
“I think it’s a little interesting with the whole Microsoft thing yesterday being down,” Marren said. “I know they said that there wasn’t a cyber attack, but I don’t know what could have happened.”
Marren wasn’t the only passenger wondering if Thursday’s problems with Outlook could be linked to the FAA troubles.
“It could all be related,” said Lorien Lucas, speculating if there could be a potential cyber attack. Lucas was traveling home to Charleston, South Carolina. “Or it could be something totally different.”
Stephanie Leifer was sitting on the floor in Terminal E with her backpack and luggage. She was headed to Boston with JetBlue, before the news halted her travel plans. While she noted the mood in the airport was not one of panic, she herself was feeling anxious.
“I’m trying not to worry,” Leifer said. “I was reading articles about how this has only happened one or two other times, and one time was 9/11.”
“I also saw that there was a boat crash in New Orleans today, and I was like, ‘does that have something to do with this?’” she said. “But I’m trying to take my cue from people and not panic until other people are panicking.”
Matthew Bassett was headed home to Augusta, Georgia after a work trip.
“The easiest way to describe it is, the airport is just full of Roombas,” he said. “Everybody is just bouncing off the walls with no destination, but it’s completely uncontrolled chaos, and nobody is listening to any of the announcements. They’re just focused on their own little world.”
Barbara Ruth-Cook was planning on traveling to Las Vegas Friday night. Her brother’s wedding is Saturday. She was on the way to the airport with her husband, son and son’s girlfriend when news came in about the nationwide ground stop.
“We were on the way over in an Uber,” Ruth-Cook said. “We’re like, ‘oh no, not good. Since the wedding’s tomorrow at 3:30.”
The family was waiting to get inside the Chase Sapphire lounge to eat some food, but they weren’t sure how long that wait would be.
“Nobody’s leaving,” Ruth-Cook said. She didn’t want to cancel her flight until she was certain it wouldn’t be flying.
“I’m just trying to see if I can get us on a flight first thing tomorrow morning,” she said. “Before everyone knows what’s going on, and see if I can snag some seats that maybe once it’ll get resolved overnight, and maybe get us something. I have a lot of points.”
Passengers, who had checked bags were unsure when they would be able to get them back, and if they should leave the terminal. A pilot and first officer, who declined to speak on record, said that they were told the FAA will give an update at 11 p.m.
Until then, the pilot added, all he could do was sit and wait.
