Reports circulated this weekend regarding hundreds of cancelled flights in Florida.
Mainstream media blamed the flight cancellations on bad weather.
From Tampa Bay Times:
Southwest Airlines cancelled numerous flights Saturday across Florida, including Tampa International Airport, due to air traffic control issues resulting from bad weather in northern Florida.
The Federal Aviation Administration imposed an air traffic management program that essentially grounded Southwest flights Friday, according to Emily Nipps, spokeswoman for Tampa International Airport.
Southwest was forced to cancel flights Friday, which caused a domino effect into Saturday. Southwest flights are continuing to be cancelled into Saturday night. As of 7:40 p.m., 11 out of 15 Southwest flights still scheduled for Saturday night were cancelled, according to flight statuses listed on Tampa International Airport’s website.
TPA is continuing to experience flight delays at this time as a result of an FAA-imposed air traffic management program in response to bad weather to the north. This issue is impacting all Florida airports. As always, please check with your airline for flight updates.
— Tampa International Airport ✈️ (@FlyTPA) October 8, 2021
Action News Jax hinted at staff shortages in addition to inclement weather:
Different airports in Florida experienced flight delays and cancellations on Friday due to bad weather and, in some cases, staff shortages.
According to the Federal Aviation Center, a Jacksonville facility needed additional staff for managing air traffic and did not resume normal operations until 10 p.m. on Friday.
The FAA released the following statement on Saturday regarding flight delays and cancelations.
“Due to a combination of severe weather, active military training in the airspace, and unexpected limited staff at the Jacksonville facility that handles high-altitude, en route traffic, the FAA took steps to safely manage air traffic the evening of Oct. 8. Normal operations returned at approximately 10 p.m.”
Other airports like Tampa International Airport had delays and cancelations due to bad weather.
But is there a media blackout on the real reason for the flight cancellations?
Unnamed sources claimed Jacksonville air traffic controllers staged a walkout over COVID-19 injection mandates.
And the protest caused pandemonium for flight operations across Florida.
The source stated at least 650 flights were cancelled.
Here’s more info:
Is there a media blackout on last night’s air traffic controller walkout in Jacksonville, FL?
Hundreds of flights canceled.
Walkout due to vax mandate
From a trusted source: pic.twitter.com/kCseQMZlal
— Tom Sauer (@thomasbsauer) October 9, 2021
More receipts: https://t.co/eSrXbkx6aZ
— Tom Sauer (@thomasbsauer) October 9, 2021
— Tom Sauer (@thomasbsauer) October 9, 2021
Many others commented on the strange flight cancellations in and out of Florida.
Last night I saw a bunch of people I follow say their flights were cancelled out of Florida.
I wonder what happened https://t.co/4W9sE579WW
— Cernovich (@Cernovich) October 9, 2021
https://twitter.com/smrankin5/status/1446924703923326978
I was told that all flights into Florida from Dallas were cancelled. And they were offering Atlanta but I have family here outside Dallas so we opted to just stay here. I'm really annoyed but whatever – they should compensate you. This is wild.
— Kenya (@ADarkLeopardess) October 10, 2021
My neighbors got stuck in Ohio yesterday and they've had to drive home to Florida. All flights were cancelled.
They're about to strike because of vaccine mandates. American Airlines is going to fire everybody who doesn't comply by late November.
— Fuzzicus® 😷 Innocuous ن🟦🇺🇸🇮🇱 (@MissFuzzball) October 10, 2021
Air Traffic Controllers are walking out due to vax mandates in Jacksonville, FL. Over 600 flights were cancelled yesterday in and out of Florida. This will not end well. https://t.co/yO0zJQWzIC
— @HollySnyder (@RealHollySnyder) October 10, 2021
https://twitter.com/filterminguji/status/1447048982363086850
What is going on with Jacksonville ATC? Flights cancelled into and out of Florida for almost a full day.
— Zane (@ZaneNaylor) October 9, 2021
What a cluster. All Florida flights cancelled yesterday due to an air traffic control shortage in Jacksonville. My husband was delayed for hours, got on the plane, got off the plane, then told midnight…then it canceled. He was told no flights available today.
— FL Jo (@NerdyFLGal) October 9, 2021
What’s going on in Jacksonville?
And why hasn’t the mainstream media confirmed or denied the rumored Jacksonville ATC walkout?
BREAKING: Air Traffic Controllers In Jacksonville, FL Staged A Walkout Yesterday In Response To The Vaccine Mandate
It’s Being Reported That All Flights In & Out Of FL Were Cancelled As A Result
Mainstream Media Chose Not To Report On This As Of Yet pic.twitter.com/DCSqh8M1eq
— HeadlineHunter!🚨U.S. (@HHunter_US) October 9, 2021
Is there a media blackout to avoid the fallout of COVID-19 injection mandates?
The Federal Aviation Administration appeared careful with their wording in this response.
From Action News Jax:
A representative for the Federal Aviation Administration told Action News Jax, “Due to a combination of severe weather, active military training in the airspace, and unexpected limited staff at the Jacksonville facility that handles high-altitude, en route traffic, the FAA took steps to safely manage air traffic the evening of Oct. 8. Normal operations returned at approximately 10 p.m.”
Action News Jax Chief Meteorologist Mike Buresh says the weather was clear in the area long before the delays were reported.
”It certainly doesn’t seem like things are back to normal,” Hill said. “There’s tons of flights canceled still even [Saturday] so I don’t really know what’s going on.”
At Jacksonville International Airport, a representative said seven flights were canceled. “Passengers and those picking up should check with their airline before heading to the airport.”
I asked @FAANews what the staffing shortage was related to. I'm still waiting for a response. @ActionNewsJax
— Robert Grant (@RobertANJax) October 9, 2021
Stay tuned for further updates on this developing story.
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