Dense morning fog caused travel disruptions at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport on Friday, prompting the Federal Aviation Administration to temporarily pause departing flights as visibility dropped.
The weather-related restrictions resulted in departure delays, with some flights expected to leave between 16 and 30 minutes behind schedule. Officials cautioned that delays could grow longer as air traffic operations worked through the backlog.
The FAA indicated that the ground stop was expected to remain in place until approximately 9:30 a.m. local time, although the duration could change depending on weather conditions and visibility improvements.
Airport travelers were encouraged to monitor their flight status through their airline, as schedules may continue to shift even after normal operations resume.
Low-visibility events such as heavy fog can reduce the spacing between aircraft required for safe takeoffs and landings, often slowing operations at busy airports until conditions improve.
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