Salina Airport Authority: No planes leaving Salina Regional Airport during FAA ground stop

The Federal Aviation Administration issued a nationwide ground stop Friday afternoon, citing "extraordinary circumstances and for reasons of safety."

No aircraft on the ground at Salina Regional Airport are being allowed to depart, Salina Airport Authority Executive Director Pieter Miller told Salina311 on Friday afternoon.

As of 3:45 p.m., no aircraft had diverted to Salina, Miller said. All K-State Salina aircraft were instructed to land and have returned to their hangars on the airfield.

In an update at 3:55 p.m., Miller said no flights operating under instrument flight rules are departing or arriving at Salina Regional Airport. Pilots flying under visual flight rules may depart at their own risk, with no guarantee of air traffic control service.

An advisory from the FAA's Air Traffic Control System Command Center directed all departing traffic to remain ground stopped until further notice. The order took effect at 2:54 p.m. and is scheduled to last until 10 p.m. Friday, though it could end earlier or be extended.

Inbound international flights will be managed on a case-by-case basis, according to the advisory.

The FAA has not said what caused the ground stop.

The order applies to departures at airports nationwide, including Salina Regional Airport. The Salina Airport Authority says the airport is served by United Airlines, with daily flights to Chicago, Denver and Houston.

Salina311 will update this story as more information becomes available.

Travelers should check their flight status with their airline.