The USC women’s basketball team remains stranded in Los Angeles this Friday following a nationwide ground stop issued by the Federal Aviation Administration.
The sudden aviation halt, which affects all U.S. airports, has jeopardized the squad’s ability to reach Greenville for a scheduled Sunday matchup against No. 1 South Carolina, according to Yahoo Sports.
The agency implemented the order due to a communication issue impacting Air Route Traffic Control Centers across the country.
Officials cited “extraordinary circumstances and for reasons of safety” as the primary drivers for the grounding, as reported by Yahoo Sports.
This event marks the first broad nationwide stoppage since January 2023.
The travel crisis extends well beyond the USC basketball program.
At least ten Power 4 college football teams are currently facing significant disruptions to their planned travel schedules, per ESPN.
Several athletic departments have turned to alternative transportation methods to ensure their teams reach their destinations.
The North Texas football team is utilizing buses to reach San Antonio for a game against UTSA, while the Purdue Boilermakers also opted for road travel to Iowa City after experiencing flight delays, according to the outlets.
While the USC football team successfully arrived in Bloomington for a Saturday contest against Indiana, the women’s basketball team faces a more difficult logistical puzzle with less time remaining before their high-stakes game.
The NFL is also monitoring the situation, with reports suggesting the Los Angeles Rams may need to bus 390 miles to Arizona.
A league spokesperson noted in a statement that “it’s too early” to determine if schedule changes are necessary, as reported by Yahoo Sports.
FAA technicians are currently investigating the specific technical failure that necessitated the nationwide grounding.
The USC program continues to wait for updates while evaluating whether to pursue road travel or wait for the skies to clear.