Overview
- The FAA imposed a full ground stop for Denver International Airport around 8 a.m. Friday due to wind shear that made landings unsafe, with officials signaling a greater than 60% chance of extension through midday.
- FlightAware later reported more than 1,200 delays and over 80 cancellations at DIA on Friday, the highest totals in the country for the day.
- An early snapshot by 9:40 a.m. showed 309 delays and 10 cancellations, with Southwest leading delays, followed by United, SkyWest and Frontier, while Frontier and JetBlue recorded the cancellations.
- The National Weather Service issued high-wind and red-flag fire warnings, forecasting gusts up to 100 mph west of metro Denver, increasing both aviation hazards and regional fire danger.
- Airport operations shifted to a prolonged-disruption posture with extra fuel trucks and standby crews as pilots held, diverted or circled, and authorities reported no injuries or runway damage.