Dallas-Fort Worth airport ground shutdown lifted, FAA says

(CNN) — A ground shutdown at Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport caused by a fuel fire Friday morning has been lifted. Hundreds of flights to and from the airport have been delayed.

The Federal Aviation Administration told CNN the ground shutdown was lifted at 12:22 p.m. local time (1:22 p.m. ET).

The nationwide ground shutdown was implemented while safety inspections of fuel lines took place, preventing arriving planes from refueling, a spokesperson said on Friday. the FAA.

As of early Friday afternoon, flight tracking site FlightAware showed more than 600 delays for flights to or from DFW.

The airport is one of the busiest in the United States and one of American Airlines’ largest hubs.

U.S. spokesman Curtis Blessing told CNN at noon on Friday that fuel was leaking and the airline was « in recovery mode now. » Blessing said flight delays were the main issue, along with « a handful » of flight diversions.

The airport tweeted an update after the ground shutdown was lifted: « The airlines fuel supplier has restored operations at their facilities and they are in the process of sending fuel to aircraft. »

The airport said it would take some time for refueling operations to return to normal and encouraged travelers to check with airlines for flight status updates.

Top Image: American Airlines planes are seen at Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport in this 2018 file photo. (AP Photo/Kiichiro Sato, File)