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Nationwide FAA ground stop leaves UNLV football waiting in Las Vegas ahead of Saturday game at New Mexico
An FAA ground stop issued Friday afternoon left the UNLV football team among hundreds of travelers waiting to take off from Las Vegas, a day before the Rebels' scheduled game against New Mexico.
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What happened
KTNV Channel 13 reported that UNLV's football team was among hundreds of travelers waiting to take off from Las Vegas on Friday after the Federal Aviation Administration halted flights nationwide. The team had been scheduled to fly out of Harry Reid International Airport Friday afternoon for a Saturday game in Albuquerque. UNLV Athletics officials confirmed the delay to the station.
As of 3 p.m. Friday, a team spokesperson said the Rebels were still in Las Vegas and "awaiting updates," according to KTNV. The station did not report a new departure time for the team.
The nationwide ground stop
When the order took effect
The FAA issued its order shortly after 1 p.m. Friday, and travelers were stranded across the country, KTNV reported. The agency said the stop would stay in place "until further notice." The report did not say when flights might resume.
What officials said caused it
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy blamed a communication problem that he said was affecting "all Air Route Traffic Control Centers," according to KTNV. The station reported that FAA technicians were investigating. It did not give more detail about the nature of the problem.
What it means for travelers in Las Vegas
KTNV described the UNLV team as one group among hundreds of travelers waiting to take off from Las Vegas. The station reported that the FAA order stranded travelers across the country. The report did not include counts of canceled or delayed flights in Las Vegas.
The game on the line
Saturday in Albuquerque
The Rebels are scheduled to play the New Mexico Lobos at 4:30 p.m. Saturday in Albuquerque. KTNV reported that the game would be UNLV's first this season against a ranked opponent. The report did not say whether the travel delay could change the schedule.
A tough defensive matchup
According to KTNV, New Mexico's defense has allowed just under 11 points per game, the best of any team at the FBS level. UNLV head coach Dan Mullen said Friday that the Lobos are "a loaded defense with talent top to front." He also said they create confusion for opponents.
"They're very opportunistic, when you talk about leading the nation in turnover margin," Mullen said Friday, according to KTNV. He noted that the figure reflects both sides of the ball combined.
What remains unclear
KTNV's report describes the situation as of mid-afternoon Friday. It did not say when the team expected to leave Las Vegas or when the FAA expected to lift the stop. FAA technicians were still investigating the cause at the time of the report.
What to watch next
- Whether the FAA lifts the nationwide ground stop, which the agency said would remain in place "until further notice."
- What FAA technicians find about the communication problem Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy described.
- When the UNLV team leaves Las Vegas for Albuquerque.
- The Rebels' scheduled 4:30 p.m. Saturday game against New Mexico.
