COVID Deep Cleaning Temporarily Delays Flights At DFW, Love Field

Flights to and from the DFW International Airport and Dallas Love Field were grounded for a few hours on Wednesday afternoon after an air traffic employee tested positive for COVID-19.

"A set of unique circumstances, including a positive COVID-19 test and convective weather, combined to create air traffic delays in and around Dallas-Fort Worth late this afternoon. Due to a thorough and expedited cleaning, the FAA quickly resumed operations, with the Fort Worth Air Traffic Control Center in Fort Worth, Texas, back online in less than two hours," according to a statement from the Federal Aviation Administration.

All air traffic controllers had to leave the center as it was undergoing a "Level 3 cleaning." Without air traffic controllers, the FAA had to declare a ground stop from 3:45 p.m. to 5:30 p.m., which caused delays for anyone traveling though the two airports.

Fox News contributor Shannon Self was aboard a flight from Houston to Dallas when the pilot announced the ground stop, according to a video he shared

"Apparently they’re having a little COVID issue. They’re doing some cleanup and that is causing a two-hour delay," the pilot said.

Asides from possible weather-related delays, air traffic is expected to return to normal on Thursday.

Photo: Getty Images