‘Power problem’ grounds southern Florida flights

Flights into Miami and Fort Lauderdale, Fla., were temporarily suspended Thursday afternoon due to a power outage, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced.

The FAA said it issued the ground stop due to a “power problem” at the Miami Terminal Radar Approach Control center.

Although some flight departures and arrivals have since resumed at a limited pace, travelers are being encouraged to check with their individual airlines for updates.

Ground stop for flights into MIA, FLL, and South FL airports due to a power problem. Check https://t.co/smgdqJN3td pic.twitter.com/gCwfe5ruec

— The FAA (@FAANews) August 25, 2016

#Update2: @FAANews ground stop has been lifted. Operations may continue to be affected. Follow up with your airline for flight info.

— Miami Int’l Airport (@iflymia) August 25, 2016

The incident is the latest technical issue to cause flights delays this summer, though the other problems were connected to airlines’ information technology systems.

{mosads}Southwest Airlines and Delta Air Lines both experienced systemwide power outages that lead to widespread cancellations and major delays, drawing the scrutiny of some Senate Democrats.

Meanwhile, Bloomberg News reported this week that Department of Transportation data shows that airline problems, such as technical glitches and mechanical failures, have surpassed weather and air traffic control problems as the leading cause of airline delays. 

“If we are going to meet our nation’s 21st century transportation needs, we need to upgrade the 20th century information technology systems that are the heart of airlines’ problems,” Sens. Ed Markey (D-Mass.) and Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) said in a statement.