• Nearly 300 flights were delayed or canceled at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport due to a temporary ground stop issued by the FAA. American and Southwest Airlines were the most affected.
• The ground stop was caused by a telecommunications problem at the FAA’s Albuquerque Center, leading to flight plan issues and departures being halted for at least an hour.
• The extreme heat in Phoenix, with temperatures reaching 115 degrees, may have contributed to the ground stop as excessive heat poses a risk to aircraft operations.

FAA Issues Ground Stop At Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (msn.com)

The FAA itself said it is due to a telecommunications issue at Albuquerque Center – which, surprisingly, is located in Albuquerque which is in New Mexico, which is a different state than Arizona. I have been inside both Los Angeles Center (private tour, all day) and Oakland Center – my original visits were for research for a thesis regarding the use of technology in air traffic control.

The FAA’s Ground Stop order specifies the cause as “EQUIPMENT”:

Through magical teleconnections, the heat in Phoenix caused the equipment failure in Albuquerque? Face plant.

The journalism style guide apparently mandates all stories be tied to the ClimateCrisis – no exceptions, even if the reporter – who has been writing about aviation for 10 months but has no training in the field– has to write contradictory statements to achieve that. The reporter has shot his credibility in the head.

The Arizona Republic reported the story correctly – it was hot in Phoenix but the problem was telecommunications equipment in Albuquerque New Mexico: Why 200 Southwest, American flights were delayed in Phoenix Monday

The news media has really embarrassed itself the past 2-3 weeks and no longer has any credibility.