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A nationwide FAA ground stop on Friday has left some AEW wrestlers stranded, one day before Full Gear in Phoenix.
The Federal Aviation Administration issued the ground stop for all United States airports on November 13, after a communications failure affecting air traffic control. According to NBC News, the FAA issued the order due to extraordinary circumstances and for reasons of safety, and asked all departing aircraft to remain on the ground until further notice.
Planes already in the air were allowed to land. Departures were halted while FAA technicians investigated the issue.
The timing is a problem for AEW. Full Gear takes place Saturday, November 14, at the Mortgage Matchup Center in Phoenix, Arizona. According to Bryan Alvarez of F4WOnline, several wrestlers had already flown to Phoenix straight from Wednesday’s Dynamite and Collision tapings, but others had not left yet.
“Regarding the FAA grounding all flights, many AEW wrestlers flew to the PPV straight from Dynamite, but others haven’t left yet and are stranded. The longer this goes the greater the likelihood of major delays and people not making it there at all,” Alvarez wrote.
Alvarez added that some people had been told the ground stop may not be lifted until 8 PM on Friday, which he called a disaster for travel plans.
TNA could be affected too. Destination X takes place Sunday, November 15, at the Edmonton EXPO Centre in Edmonton, Alberta. Alvarez noted that most talent working that show would fly into Edmonton on Saturday, so a ground stop lasting around six hours could hit that show as well.
WWE is less exposed this weekend. SmackDown takes place Friday night at the Amerant Bank Arena in Sunrise, Florida, and Alvarez explained that WWE typically flies its main roster talent to TV events the day before the show.
Reuters reported that nearly 7,000 flights faced a delay or cancelation during the disruption.
What is confirmed is the nationwide ground stop and that some AEW talent is stranded. What is not confirmed is whether anyone will miss Full Gear, or when flights return to normal.
