On Friday afternoon, the University of Tennessee football team found its plane stuck on the tarmac at Knoxville’s airport after the Federal Aviation Administration issued a nationwide ground stop. The Volunteers were scheduled to depart Knoxville at 4 p.m. ET for College Station, Texas, for their Saturday matchup against Texas A&M.

According to KBTX, the team deplaned and returned to the Vol Football facility for dinner while awaiting further direction. The university’s communications director confirmed that the Volunteers would travel Friday night once the FAA lifted the restriction, allowing the 2 p.m. CT kickoff on Saturday to proceed as planned.

Texas A&M released a statement saying it is in communication with both the SEC and Tennessee regarding the travel disruption. The SEC also issued a notice that it is closely coordinating with member institutions to assess any potential impact on game day. The FAA’s notice cited “extraordinary circumstances and for reasons of safety” as the cause of the ground stop, marking only the second nationwide halt since the September 11, 2001 attacks.

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy explained that a communications issue affecting regional air‑traffic control centers triggered the stop, impacting flights across the United States. The grounding was not limited to Tennessee; KBTX reported that Washington and Ole Miss were also delayed, while Wake Forest, Missouri and South Carolina had already arrived at their destinations before the restriction took effect.

Knoxville residents can look forward to the game as scheduled on Saturday at 2 p.m. CT. The Volunteers are expected to be in College Station later Friday night, giving the team time to prepare for the contest. Fans should monitor local traffic reports for any increased congestion near the airport as the team and its support staff travel out of town.

Sources: kbtx.com