FAA Ground Stop Triggers Restroom Lines at LAX

A rare nationwide ground stop ordered by the Federal Aviation Administration on Friday has produced an unexpected consequence at Los Angeles International Airport: lengthy lines at restrooms, according to sources at LAX who spoke to TMZ.

Travelers at the airport were advised to use the restroom and purchase food while they could, because the facility was bracing for a wave of landing flights, the sources told TMZ. Video obtained by TMZ on Friday showed passengers queued in long restroom lines as they hurried to complete personal business before arriving travelers compound the congestion.

The disruption stems from an order issued Friday that requires departing flights throughout the United States to stay on the ground until further notice, a measure the agency described as necessary for safety reasons. U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said the broad shutdown resulted from a communications problem that affected every Air Route Traffic Control Center, with FAA technicians working urgently to determine the cause, TMZ reported.

International arrivals are not covered by a blanket rule. The FAA said such flights will be evaluated individually, a policy that leaves travelers facing significant uncertainty about their plans, according to TMZ.

With aircraft held on the tarmac during the nationwide shutdown, conditions for passengers already at airports could deteriorate further. The restroom queues at LAX illustrate how a systemwide aviation directive can quickly translate into tangible inconvenience for travelers on the ground.