A ground stop was implemented on Friday afternoon at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport following an incident involving a fire alarm that was triggered by “strong gas fumes,” according to the FAA.
Flight operations were halted at around 5 p.m. ET.
The FAA indicated that the halt was enacted after a fire alarm was activated due to the presence of a “strong” gas odor.
The air traffic control tower at the airport was evacuated, prompting a response from first responders, as reported by FOX 5 Atlanta confirmed.
The FAA stated that a secondary air traffic control tower is in the process of being established, after which the ground stop will be lifted.
This airport is recognized as one of the busiest travel hubs globally.
According to Flight Aware, the ground stop has resulted in significant delays for hundreds of flights at the facility.
This incident occurs amid widespread delays at airports nationwide due to the ongoing government shutdown.
Fox News Digital has reached out to the FAA for further comments.
This is a developing story. Please revisit for updates.
