Record Cold Triggers False Alarm, Forcing FAA Ground Stop at Orlando International Airport

Operations at Orlando International Airport (MCO) came to a temporary halt Sunday afternoon. The disruption followed a fire alarm activation in the airport's air traffic control tower. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) immediately issued a ground stop for all departing flights. This precautionary measure is standard protocol for a tower evacuation.

Cause of the Disruption

Airport officials quickly confirmed the alarm was false. The cause was traced to a sprinkler head activation inside the control tower facility. This activation was directly linked to extreme cold temperatures sweeping across Central Florida. The weather phenomenon caused a malfunction in the fire suppression system.

Sunday, February 1, 2026, saw record-breaking cold in the region. Temperatures in Orlando plummeted to a chilly 24°F.

Air Traffic Control Evacuation

Air traffic controllers evacuated their posts around 3:30 p.m. local time. This was a necessary safety measure following the alarm. The tower staff's evacuation prompted the immediate FAA ground stop on departures.

Airport Aircraft Rescue and Fire Fighting (ARFF) crews responded quickly. They investigated the water flow and confirmed no actual fire or hazard existed.

Impact on Commercial Aviation

The ground stop lasted for approximately 45 minutes. The FAA lifted the restriction around 4:15 p.m. local time.

However, the brief interruption had a significant ripple effect on air travel. Orlando International Airport is one of the busiest hubs in the United States.

Flight tracking data showed substantial delays for the day. Reports indicated over 200 flight delays into or out of MCO. At least 33 flights were also canceled.

Operational Recovery and Vulnerability

Flight operations began to gradually return to normal after the tower was cleared. The incident was confined to the MCO air traffic control tower. No passengers were evacuated from the airport terminals.

This event highlights the vulnerability of critical airport infrastructure to extreme weather. Even in a typically warm climate like Florida, record cold can affect essential safety systems. Aviation stakeholders must consider these rare weather events. They can cause major commercial aviation disruption and passenger inconvenience. The swift response by airport and Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) personnel ensured a quick resolution. This minimized the overall impact on the National Airspace System.

Visit flying.flights for the latest commercial aviation news and airline industry updates.

For detailed airline coverage, route changes, and fleet moves, explore the Airlines section at flying.flights/airlines.