The concessionaire GRU Airport, which manages São Paulo International Airport, in Guarulhos, informed TV Globo and g1 that it received a security alert from the Federal Aviation Command Center so that all air traffic originating or ending in the United States remains on the ground until further notice.
In a statement, the concessionaire highlighted that it advised passengers with scheduled flights to the North American country to consult the airlines directly for more information.
"GRU Airport informs that it has received a security alert from the Federal Aviation Command Center so that all air traffic to or from the USA remains on the ground until further notice. Passengers with flights scheduled for the North American country should consult the airlines directly for more information."
The United States Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) ordered the suspension of all takeoffs in the country following a communication problem affecting air traffic control centers.
According to data from the monitoring website FlightAware, almost 7,000 flights in the United States were delayed or canceled as a result of the national suspension.
United States Secretary of Homeland Security Markwayne Mullin said the government has no evidence that the outage was caused by an attack. According to him, the problem is related to a temporary failure in telecommunications services.
In a statement, the company Gol informed that it is aware of the decision by the United States Federal Aviation Administration to suspend takeoffs at American airports. He highlighted that there are two flights scheduled for this evening from the United States.
"Flight G3 7635, from Orlando (MCO) to Brasília (BSB), is scheduled to take off at 9 pm (11 pm Brasília time). Flight G3 7749, from Miami (MIA) to Brasília, is scheduled for 9:35 pm (11:35 pm Brasília time)", he informed.
The company also said that all decisions related to the two flights will follow its commitment to safety.
United Airlines also informed, in a statement, that it is responding to the order to suspend takeoffs across the country, issued by the FAA. According to the company, flights that are already in the air will continue to their destinations, but new takeoffs on domestic flights are suspended while the determination is in force.
The company also stated that it will work to ensure that passengers reach their destinations as soon as the situation is resolved.
American Airlines said flights that are already in the air can continue to their destinations. The company foresees impacts on the schedule for the remainder of the day, depending on the duration of the suspension, and stated that it will mobilize its teams to help passengers continue their journey as soon as the restriction is lifted.
Azul said it is closely monitoring the suspension of airspace in the United States and awaits new guidance from American authorities on the matter.
"At the moment, there is one Company flight (AD9301 Campinas-Orlando) en route to the United States, which continues normally, with a scheduled landing at 7pm local time, 9pm Brasília time, two other flights departing from American cities (AD8707 Orlando-Campinas and AD9302 Orlando-Confins) and one departing from Campinas to Fort Lauderdale AD8704)", he stated.
The company also highlighted that all customers will receive the necessary assistance.
Delta Airlines reported that it does not yet have information to communicate.
'No changes appeared in the panels'
Flight panel at Guarulhos Airport, in SP — Photo: Gabriel Diehl/ Personal archive
Gabriel Diehl, 31 years old, is a project manager and says he left Porto Alegre at 1 pm this Friday (13) heading to São Paulo, where he would make an international connection to Boston. Boarding for the United States was scheduled for 10:40 pm.
While following the news about the situation in the United States, he reported that, so far, he has not received any communication about changes to the trip.
"We are in front of the flight screens, following the confirmations and boarding times. So far everything has been confirmed. No one has warned anything different and no changes have appeared on the panels either", he says.
Runway at Cumbica International Airport, in Guarulhos — Photo: Sidnei Barros/Prefeitura de Guarulhos
