air travel ground stop

Simple Flying

What is a ground stop at an airport.

Ground Stops normally occur with little or no warning.

• Ground Stops ensure safe aircraft accommodation at busy airports, especially during peak times.
• Ground Stops are implemented due to reduced airport capacity and overriding all other traffic management initiatives.
• Factors like airport gridlocks, airborne holding, and saturation levels can lead to the implementation of a Ground Stop.

A Ground Stop (GS) is a Traffic Management Initiative (TMI) that would require some aircraft (based on specific criteria) to remain on the ground at the origin airport. These criteria can be specific to the airport, the geographical area, the environment, or the equipment. Ground Stops are implemented in a particular period, mainly due to airport capacity indicated by the Air Traffic Control (ATC).

Safe accommodation of aircraft at airports

Safe aircraft accommodation may become challenging at busy airports, particularly during peak times. Increased seasonal flights or delays in the air may result in reduced airport capacity. Ground Stops are considered some of the TMI's most restrictive instances. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) states in Section 13 of the Traffic Management National, Center, and Terminal,

“Ground stop(s) (GS) override all other traffic management initiatives. Aircraft must not be released from a GS without the approval of the originator of the GS. The GS is a process that requires aircraft that meet a specific criteria to remain on the ground. The criteria may be airport specific, airspace specific, or equipment specific; for example, all departures to San Francisco, or all departures entering Yorktown sector, or all Category I and II aircraft going to Charlotte.”

“GSs normally occur with little or no warning. Since GSs are one of the most restrictive methods of traffic management, alternative initiatives must be explored and implemented if appropriate.”

Typical factors causing Ground Stops

GSs can result from several factors related to airports, aircraft, and their movement. The aim is to increase aviation safety by minimizing flight risks associated with aircraft movements at or around airports. Ground Stops commonly occur as a result of:

Reduced capacity situations

• A prior in-air delay
• Severe weather impacting available routes
• Weather conditions below acceptable minimum
• Catastrophic events at or around airports
• Equipment outages, such as significant radars, communications, etc.

Airborne holding

• Extended periods of arrival holding
• Extended departure holding

Saturation levels

• Peak travel days and times
• Prior delays resulting in airport saturation
• Incoming diversions at the airport

Airport gridlocks

• Clogged airspace
• Clogged airport
• Demand outstripping supply

Chicago: Flights Canceled, Ground Stop Issued As Winter Weather Hits Airports Hard

The Air Traffic Manager at Philadelphia International Airport (PHL) ATC Tower/TRACON, Neil Byers, spoke about holding aircraft for a short time by saying,

“For instance, if there is a thunderstorm that's rolling through the airspace, ATC will try to time it to where those aircraft won't be affected by the thunderstorm. We'll put in a short-term ground stop, which is about 30 minutes-to-an hour to stop the traffic and give a little break. That's a mechanism that we use to control the throughput of the airport.”

Scope of a Ground Stop

Ground Stops are implemented based on various conditions specific to the flights. When it is implemented, traffic managers define the scope of the stop based on distance, center, or tier.

• Distance - Geographical location, distance from a specific airport
• Center - Based on the Air Route Traffic Control Center (ARTCC)
• Tier - Geographical area based on the ARTCC boundaries

When a Ground Stop is implemented, the scope may be determined based on a specific distance from the airport. For example, if the scope is defined as "800 miles+ CZY", all flights originating within 800 miles from Toronto Center (CZY) are part of the Ground Stop scope. Distance is one of the most precise ways of defining the scope, allowing traffic managers to control and plan flights within the given distance range.

FAA Issues Ground Stop At Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport Over Bad Weather

The en route center, known as the Air Route Traffic Control Center (ARTCC), determines the Ground Stop scope. Traffic managers implement GS based on which center the aircraft are departing from. For example, a scope of "ZBW+ZDC+ZNY," where Z represents the center, and the other two are related to the airport, could capture all flights from Boston Center (ZBW), Washington Center (ZDC), and New York Center (ZNY).

Tier defines the geographical area based on the ARTCC boundaries set by the air traffic management (ATM). Groups of multiple en-route centers are combined to form a tier. Multiple tiers represent the area farther away from the selected center. The region (within a specific radius) closest to the center will be the first tier, the area further away will be the second tier, and the farthest will be the third tier. Notably, geographical tiers are inclusive, meaning a second-tier implementation would include the first tier.

Ground Stop Issued In Las Vegas After University Shooting

According to the National Business Aviation Association ,

“Facilities may implement ground stops for up to 15 minutes without notifying the Air Traffic Control System Command Center (ATCSCC). A facility ground stop may not exceed 30 minutes. Once the delay is anticipated to reach 15 minutes or more, the ATCSCC is notified. If the ground stop is expected to continue, an advisory will be issued by the ATCSCC advising customers of the extension.”

What are your thoughts on the implementation of Ground Stops and the associated rules? Share your views in the comments section.

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What the Heck is a Ground Stop?

By Brett Snyder

In the midst of the chaos following the explosions at the Boston Marathon yesterday, word came out that Boston's Logan Airport had been put under a ground stop. That sounds bad, but is it? No. In fact, a ground stop is something that happens fairly often and, in this case, had nothing to do with any suspected security issues at the airport or on an airplane.

First, let's start with the basics. What is a ground stop? It's an order issued by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) whenever they need to freeze operations. It requires that flights scheduled to land at the affected airport be held at their departure point.

In this case, the ground stop for Logan was issued for about 20 minutes. But this wasn't even for all flights. Only flights departing from the northeast U.S. and Canada were held.

So what was the problem? Were there suspicious packages? Shady characters? Serious intelligence concerns? According to the airport, the FAA changed the runways in use at the airport, so they put a halt to departing flights to give the airport the ability to redirect traffic.

Why did they change the runways? Well, there was a no-fly area declared over parts of Boston, as a precaution after the explosions. So the airport had to use different runways in order to prevent arriving and departing aircraft from breaching that area.

That was it. And just so you understand how common this order is, the Boston ground stop wasn't the only one issued yesterday. There was one later in the day at O'Hare. Why? Some secret terrorist plot? No. There was a thunderstorm sitting over the airport, so they had to stop flights until it passed. And Denver had one last night due to snow and ice. In fact, a ground stop is going on right now across all American flights , as the airline tries to fix its crashed computer system (airlines and airports can request ground stops and delays, but it's ultimately the FAA that issues them).

Of course, ground stops can be issued for real security reasons.This morning someone got overly suspicious about wiring sticking out of a light at LaGuardia, and authorities needed to evacuate the terminal—so a ground stop went into effect.

For more info on both ground stops and delays, head on over to http://www.fly.faa.gov/ and you can see the current status at every airport in the U.S. If you watch it long enough, you might be surprised at how often these happen.

Photo: Baran Özdemir/E+/Getty Images

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Ground stop

1 SENTENCE DEFINITION: A ground stop is a directive from ATC to hold all departing aircraft on the ground until further notice, usually due to issues such as heavy congestion or severe weather conditions.

CATEGORY: Aviation Communication and Safety | SUB CATEGORY: Air Traffic Control

Table of Contents

Explanation

Other air traffic control terms you can explore.

A ground stop, in the context of air traffic control (ATC), refers to a directive issued by ATC to temporarily hold all departing aircraft on the ground until further notice. This directive is typically prompted by specific circumstances such as heavy congestion or severe weather conditions that pose a potential risk to the safety or efficiency of air traffic operations.

During a ground stop, ATC halts the departure of aircraft from an airport or a specific set of airports within a designated airspace. This directive is communicated to the airline operators and pilots through various communication channels, including radio frequencies and data link systems.

The purpose of a ground stop is to manage and control the flow of air traffic, ensuring the safety of all aircraft and minimizing the impact of adverse conditions. By holding departing aircraft on the ground, ATC can prevent congestion in the airspace and on the runways, which could otherwise lead to delays, conflicts, or unsafe operating conditions.

An example of a ground stop scenario is when an airport experiences severe thunderstorms moving through the area. In this case, ATC may issue a ground stop directive, holding all departing aircraft on the ground until the thunderstorms pass and it is safe for aircraft to take off. This measure ensures that the aircraft remain on the ground, away from the volatile weather conditions, preventing any potential risks or hazards associated with departing during severe weather. Once the threat has subsided, ATC will lift the ground stop and allow aircraft to resume their departure operations.

• Handoff altitude
• Holding instructions
• Holding pattern entry

Section 13. Ground Stop(s)

Ground stop(s) ( GS ) override all other traffic management initiatives. Aircraft must not be released from a GS without the approval of the originator of the GS .

The GS is a process that requires aircraft that meet a specific criteria to remain on the ground. The criteria may be airport specific, airspace specific, or equipment specific; for example, all departures to San Francisco, or all departures entering Yorktown sector, or all Category I and II aircraft going to Charlotte. GS s normally occur with little or no warning. Since GS s are one of the most restrictive methods of traffic management, alternative initiatives must be explored and implemented if appropriate. GS s should be used:

• In severely reduced capacity situations (below most user arrival minimums, airport/runway closed for snow removal, or aircraft accidents/incidents);
• To preclude extended periods of airborne holding;
• To preclude sector/center reaching near saturation levels or airport grid lock;
• In the event a facility is unable or partially unable to perform ATC services due to unforeseen circumstances;
• When routings are unavailable due to severe weather; and
• When routings are unavailable due to catastrophic events.

Helicopters are exempt from ground stops based on weather unless specifically included by the ARTCC facility when requesting the ground stop.

• LOCAL GROUND STOP(S)

A facility may initiate a local GS when the facilities impacted are wholly contained within the facility's area of responsibility and conditions are not expected to last more than 30 minutes. Local GS s must not be extended without prior approval of the ATCSCC .

• The TMU must:
• Explore and, if warranted, implement alternative initiatives before implementing a local GS .
• Notify the ATCSCC before implementing a local GS .

If conditions prohibit notifying the ATCSCC before the GS is implemented, the TMU must inform the ATCSCC as soon as practical.

• Issue GS information to underlying facilities, using normal communication methods, in sufficient time for proper planning.
• The Terminal facility must notify the appropriate TMU before implementing a local GS .

If conditions prohibit notifying the TMU before the GS is implemented, the facility must inform the TMU as soon as practical.

• The ATCSCC must:
• When available, use the FSM to implement the GS .
• Issue an advisory.
• NATIONAL GROUND STOP(S)

Prior to implementing a national GS , less restrictive traffic management initiatives must be evaluated. Upon receipt of information that an immediate constraint is needed to manage a condition:

• Time permitting, conference affected facilities and system users, as appropriate, to implement a national GS .
• When appropriate, utilize Flight Schedule Monitor (FSM) to implement a national GS , except when deemed impractical.

FSM does not allow for the implementation of category specific GS s, for example, GS for single airline flights or GS for all Cat I and II flights. In these cases the use of the FSM GS is not practical.

• Transmit an ATCSCC advisory providing information to air traffic facilities and user groups about the implementation or modification of a national GS . The ATCSCC advisory must include the following items:
• Facilities Included.
• Expect Update Time.
• Probability of Extension.
• Remarks. (Optional)
• Continually monitor, adjust, and cancel national GS s, as appropriate, and transmit an ATCSCC advisory as necessary.
• Coordinate with the affected facilities to ensure the GS is managing the condition.
• The ARTCC TMU must:
• Explore and implement alternative initiatives prior to requesting a national GS , if feasible.
• Coordinate closely with the ATCSCC on conditions affecting capacity .
• The Terminal facilities must:
• Coordinate closely with the appropriate TMU on conditions affecting the national GS .
• Request release of aircraft through the appropriate protocol.
• CANCELLATION PROCEDURES
• Time permitting, conference affected facilities and system users, as appropriate, to develop an operational plan to release nationally ground stopped traffic.
• Transmit an ATCSCC advisory when a national GS has been cancelled.
• Transmit an ATCSCC advisory to cancel an ATCSCC issued local GS advisory.
• The advisory must include the following items:
• Facilities Released.
• The ARTCC TMU and the Terminal facilities must:
• Issue cancellation information to underlying facilities, using normal communication methods, in sufficient time for proper planning and control actions.
• Notify facility personnel, as appropriate, of the cancellation.
• Notify the ATCSCC if a local GS was coordinated with the ATCSCC .
• DOCUMENTATION
• The ATCSCC must document all pertinent information related to the GS in their position logs, including, but not limited to, the start and stop times, the affected facilities, and the reason for the GS .
• The ARTCC TMU and the Terminal facilities must document all pertinent information related to the GS in their position logs.

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Flights delayed across the US after FAA system outage

By Aditi Sangal , Adrienne Vogt , Mike Hayes, Elise Hammond and Tori B. Powell, CNN

Here's what led to today's FAA ground stoppage

From CNN's Greg Wallace

When air traffic control officials realized they had a computer issue late Tuesday, they came up with a plan: Reboot the system when it would least disrupt air travel Wednesday morning.  

Ultimately, that plan and the outage led to massive flight delays and an unprecedented order to stop all aircraft departures nationwide , a source familiar with the Federal Aviation Administration operation told CNN.

FAA officials told reporters early Wednesday that the issues developed in the 3 p.m. ET hour on Tuesday. 

Officials ultimately found a corrupt file in the main Notice to Air Missions, or NOTAM, the source said. A corrupt file was also found in the backup system. The NOTAM is a critical and enormous safety computer system that advises pilots of issues along their route and at their destination. It has a backup, which officials switched to when problems with the main system emerged, according to the source.   

In the overnight hours of Tuesday into Wednesday, FAA officials decided to shut down and reboot the main NOTAM system – a significant decision, because the reboot can take about 90 minutes, according to the source.  

They decided to perform the reboot early Wednesday before air traffic began flying on the East Coast in order to minimize disruption to flights.  

During this process, the FAA told reporters that the system was "beginning to come back online," but said it would take time to resolve.  

The system, according to the source, “did come back up, but it wasn’t completely pushing out the pertinent information that it needed for safe flight, and it appeared it was taking longer to do that.”  

That’s when the FAA issued a nationwide ground stop at around 7:30 a.m. ET, halting all domestic departures. Aircraft in line for takeoff were held before entering runways. Flights already in the air were advised verbally of the safety notices by air traffic controllers, who keep a static electronic or paper record at their desks of the active notices.   

Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg ordered an after-action review and said that there was “no direct evidence or indication” that the issue was a cyberattack.  

The source said the NOTAMS system is an example of aging infrastructure due for an overhaul.  

“Because of budgetary concerns and flexibility of budget, this tech refresh has been pushed off,” the source said. “I assume now they’re going to actually find money to do it.”  

“The FAA’s infrastructure is a lot more than just brick and mortar.” 

The FAA did not immediately respond to a CNN request for comment on this account. 

More than 8,600 flights have been delayed today. Here's what you need to know now.

The Federal Aviation Administration's Notice to Air Missions, or NOTAM, system experienced an outage Wednesday, contributing to widespread flight cancellations and delays.

Here are the latest developments:

Flight impacts. As of Wednesday afternoon, 8,609 flights within, into or out of the United States were delayed and 1,251 were canceled, according to the flight-tracking website FlightAware. Travelers have reported waiting in airports for hours as airports urge passengers to check with their airlines about flight interruptions.

Ground stop lifted. The FAA lifted its ground stop Wednesday morning and said "normal air traffic operations are resuming gradually across the U.S." Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said the dramatic nationwide ground stop of departing flights was out of an "abundance of caution."

Calls for reform. Buttigieg told CNN Wednesday a key question officials need to look into is whether or not the system outage is an indication that the FAA's system is outdated. He said he welcomed the attention from Congress, especially because the US is nearing the time period when it needs to renew funding for the FAA.

And following the system outage, Sen. Ted Cruz called for congressional reforms to the FAA, which has been operating without a permanent leader since March. Meanwhile, Democratic Sen. Maria Cantwell, who chairs the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, said the panel will look into the causes behind the outage.

Cancellation comparison. Southwest, which canceled tens of thousands of flights  after Christmas  following a systemwide meltdown, was hit hard on Wednesday by the system outage with 377 canceled flights. But American Airlines was hit even harder by one measure: Including feeder airlines that use regional jets, American said it has canceled nearly 400 flights as of midday Wednesday.

Here's a look at how today's flight cancellations across all airlines compared to the mass cancellations earlier this month:

This frequent flyer has been impacted by 2 mass flight cancellations in less than a month

From CNN’s Caroll Alvarado 

It’s the second time in less than a month that frequent flyer Erin Potrzebowski has had her Southwest flight scraped as part of mass flight cancellations impacting the entire country, she told CNN. 

Potrzebowski was one of the many travelers who had a Southwest flight canceled in late December. She was scheduled to catch a Southwest flight from New Orleans to Chicago on Dec. 29 but was told the flight was canceled a day prior. In hopes of traveling back home for New Year’s, she booked a direct flight with American Airlines for an additional $400. She is still waiting to see if she will be reimbursed by Southwest.

Now, less than a month later, Potrzebowski is once again dealing with mass flight cancellations. On Wednesday, her Southwest flight from Chicago to New Orleans was canceled due to an FAA outage that impacted flights across the country.

Potrzebowski arrived at the Chicago Midway Airport around 6 a.m. and must wait till 6 p.m. to board her rescheduled Southwest flight, she said.

More than 8,000 US flights delayed and over 1,200 canceled so far today

Delays and cancellations at airports across the US are still climbing following an outage in the Federal Administration Aviation's Notice to Air Missions system .

So far, 8,116 flights within, into or from the US have been delayed on Wednesday, and 1,213 flights were canceled, according to the flight-tracking site FlightAware.

Airports have been advising travelers to check with their airlines to see their latest flight status.

American Airlines is actually having a worse day than Southwest by one measure

From CNN's Chris Isidore and Pete Muntean

Southwest, which canceled tens of thousands of flights after Christmas following a systemwide meltdown, was hit hard on Wednesday after a Federal Aviation Administration system outage, with 377 canceled flights.

About 9% of Southwest flights are canceled and 47% of flights are delayed.

The airline said mid-morning Wednesday that operations have resumed.

"As a result of the FAA's outage, we anticipate some schedule adjustments will be made throughout the day," Southwest said in a statement, encouraging travelers to check their flight status online or via the airline's app. Southwest has also issued a waiver allowing travelers to change their flights.

American Airlines was hit even harder by one measure: Including feeder airlines that use regional jets, American said it has canceled nearly 400 flights as of midday Wednesday.

While the Wednesday's flight cancellations at Southwest are a problem for its customers, it was nowhere near as bad as what it experienced from Dec. 21 through Dec. 29, when more than 16,700 flights, or nearly half of its scheduled, had to be canceled due to lack of available staff.

Buttigieg says there is no evidence of cyberattack, but also won't rule it out

There is no evidence yet that Wednesday’s air travel technology meltdown resulted from a cyberattack, Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said, but he added that he also wouldn’t rule it out. 

“There’s been no direct evidence or indication of that, but we are also not going rule that out until we have a clear and better understanding of what’s taken place,” Buttigieg said in an interview with CNN.  

Buttigieg, who has been hard on airlines over their staffing and technology issues in the last year, said the Transportation Department and Federal Aviation Administration would “own” responsibility for their failures. 

He said the dramatic nationwide ground stop of departing flights was out of an “abundance of caution.”

The “FAA will always act to make sure that passengers are safe,” he said. “Part of what you saw this morning was an act of caution to be sure – until it was 100% airtight that the system was working properly even just delivering messages – that we had that ground stop,” he said.  

Buttigieg defends FAA's decision to ground flights after system outage

From CNN's Shawna Mizelle

Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg defended the Federal Aviation Administration’s decision Wednesday morning to ground flights nationwide following a safety system outage, saying it was “the right call” but acknowledging that “these kinds of disruptions should not happen.”

“And my primary interest, now that we've gotten through the immediate disruptions of the morning, is understanding exactly how this was possible and what steps are needed to make sure it doesn't happen again,” Buttigieg told CNN’s Kate Bolduan on “At This Hour.”

Buttigieg cited irregularities with the FAA system that relays safety messages out to airports, aircraft and airlines and said the flight halt was put in place to ensure the system was working correctly.

Transportation secretary says it's the right time to review the FAA's technology

US Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg was asked on CNN this morning if today's outage is an indication that the FAA's system is out of date. He responded said that is one of the "key questions" officials need to look at based on what happened overnight.

Following a failure of the Federal Aviation Administration's Notice to Air Missions or NOTAM system , more than 6,700 flights within, into or from the US have been delayed so far on Wednesday, with more than 1,000 cancellations, according to the flight-tracking site FlightAware.

The number of cancellations and delays has continued to climb despite the agency lifting a ground stop that it issued earlier Wednesday morning following the outage to the system that provides pilots with notices they need before flying.

Rep. Rick Larsen, the top Democrat on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, told CNN’s Kaitlan Collins Wednesday that the failure of Federal Aviation Administration's Notice to Air Missions (NOTAM) system “begs the question about the current state of the technology infrastructure at the FAA.”

Asked about the comments, Buttigieg said he welcomed the attention from Congress, especially because the US is nearing the time period when it needs to renew funding for the FAA.

More than 6,700 US flights delayed and over 1,000 canceled so far

Delays and cancellations are stacking up at airports across the country following an outage in the Federal Administration Aviation's Notice to Air Missions system.

More than 6,700 flights within, into or from the US have been delayed so far on Wednesday, with more than 1,000 cancellations, according to the flight-tracking site FlightAware.

Airports have been advising travelers to check with individuals airlines to see their latest flight status.

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GroundStops.com

Real-time faa air travel delays, we are currently collecting data to create the world's leading travel-delay prediction tool. we plan to offer you up to the minute information on travel delays and ground stops. we will offer you alternative options to your travel plans in order to get you to your destination.

FAA lifts ground stop of Alaska Airlines flights after system issues resolved

The Federal Aviation Administration lifted a ground stop that applied to all Alaska Airlines and subcarrier flights after about an hour Wednesday. The order was first instituted because of a software issue at the airline.

"This morning we experienced an issue while performing an upgrade to the system that calculates our weight and balance. Out of an abundance of caution, we requested a ground stop for all Alaska and Horizon flights, which was instituted at approximately 7:30 a.m. PT," Alaska said in a statement to USA TODAY. "The issue was mitigated and the ground stop for Alaska and Horizon flights expired at 8:30 a.m. PT. We have begun releasing flights. Residual delays are expected throughout the day. We apologize for the inconvenience and encourage guests to check the status of their flights on alaskaair.com or the Alaska App prior to heading to the airport."

The ground stop did not apply to Alaska flights operated by regional carrier SkyWest.

Although Alaska said it anticipates some delays throughout its system Wednesday as a result of the ground stop, as of 11:50 a.m. ET, the airline was not reporting any cancellations, according to FlightAware .

Zach Wichter is a travel reporter for USA TODAY based in New York. You can reach him at [email protected].

US FAA issues ground stop advisory for Alaska Airlines

W ASHINGTON (Reuters) -The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration issued a ground stop advisory on Wednesday for Alaska Airlines, saying: "All Alaska mainline and subcarrier flights ground stopped."

In a separate statement, the FAA said the carrier "asked the FAA to pause the airline’s mainline departures nationwide." It did not provide a reason for the stoppage.

CNBC reported that the airline's system used to calculate weight and balance for flights was not functioning correctly.

Alaska Airlines and the FAA did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Responding to passenger complaints on social media platform X, the airline said it was working on getting people moving as soon as possible.

Shares of Alaska Air Group, which owns the airline, pared gains after the advisory, and were last up 2.2% at 11:13 ET (1513 GMT).

The FAA advisory said that flights for SkyWest, which provides regional service for Alaska Airlines and others, were excluded.

(Reporting by Kanishka Singh, Ismail Shakil and Rajesh Kumar Singh; editing by Rami Ayyub)

United Airlines issued nationwide ground stop due to 'systemwide technology issue'

United Airlines briefly grounded its fleet nationwide, the airline and the Federal Aviation Administration said Tuesday.

In a statement Tuesday afternoon, the airline blamed the ground stop, which lasted about an hour, on a software update.

"Earlier today a software update caused a widespread slowdown in United’s technology systems," the statement said. "We briefly held aircraft at their destination airports and resumed normal operations around 12:45 p.m. CT."

No airplanes in flight were affected, the airline said, adding that cybersecurity was not a factor.

The FAA confirmed the airline had asked for the ground stop.

United Airlines said earlier Tuesday it was holding aircraft because of a "systemwide technology issue."

The FAA said in a statement on X, formerly Twitter, at about 1:50 p.m. ET that the airline lifted the ground stop for flights in the U.S. and Canada.

About the same time, the airline said the ground stop had been lifted.

In a subsequent statement , it said: "We have identified a fix for the technology issue and flights have resumed. We’re working with impacted customers to help them reach their destinations as soon as possible."

It’s not the first time this year technological problems grounded commercial airlines in the U.S.

In January, departures for all U.S. flights were halted for several hours after the  FAA  experienced a  computer outage .

The FAA said at the time the delays, which affected thousands of flights, appeared to have been caused by an issue in the Notice to Air Missions system, or NOTAM, which provides pilots with pertinent information they need to fly.

And in June, the FAA ordered a ground stop at Washington, D.C.-area airports because of problems with a communication system at a facility that controls air traffic in Virginia. Less than an hour after departures were stopped, flights to the area airports resumed, the FAA said.

Antonio Planas is a breaking news reporter for NBC News Digital. 

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FAA issues ground stop advisory for Alaska Airlines

Airline says it experienced IT issue during upgrade to system that calculates weight and balance

The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued a ground stop advisory on Wednesday for Alaska Airlines, saying: “All Alaska mainline and subcarrier flights ground stopped.”

In a separate statement, the FAA said the carrier “asked the FAA to pause the airline’s mainline departures nationwide”. It did not provide a reason for the stoppage. CNBC reported that the problem may have been an IT issue and that the airline’s system used to calculate weight and balance for flights was not functioning correctly.

Alaska said in a statement: “This morning we experienced an issue while performing an upgrade to the system that calculates our weight and balance. A ground stop for all Alaska and Horizon flights was instituted at approximately 7.50am PT. We’re working to resolve the issue as quickly as possible. We apologize for the inconvenience and encourage guests to check the status of their flights on alaskaair.com or the Alaska App prior to heading to the airport.”

Responding to passenger complaints on social media platform X, the airline said it was working on getting people moving as soon as possible.

The FAA advisory said that flights for SkyWest, which provides regional service for Alaska Airlines and others, were excluded.

The stoppage comes the same day as a Boeing whistleblower testifies before Congress. The day before, he called on the aviation giant to ground its 787 Dreamliner aircraft after warning they were at risk for premature failure.

In January, a door flew off a Boeing plane mid-flight, prompting increased scrutiny from airlines and regulators.

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Alaska Airlines briefly grounds flights due to technical issue

SEATTLE -- Alaska Airlines briefly grounded all flights Wednesday due to a technical issue.

The Seattle-based airline said in a statement it requested a ground stop for all Alaska and Horizon air flights out of an abundance of caution after it "experienced an issue while performing an upgrade to the system that calculates our weight and balance."

The ground stop lasted from about 7:30 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. Pacific time, when flights began resuming. The airline said it expected residual delays throughout the day and recommended that travelers check their flight status before heading to the airport.

The grounding came as Senate committees held dual hearings Wednesday examining allegations of major safety failures at Boeing , which has been pushed into crisis mode since a door-plug panel blew off a 737 Max jetliner during an Alaska Airlines flight in January.

MORE | Boeing whistleblower testimony to congress: 'They are putting out defective airplanes'

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Staffing issues caused FAA to issue ground delay for Nashville International Airport

The ground stop will ended just after 6 p.m., according to airport officials..

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WSMV) - Staffing issues at the Nashville International Airport control tower caused the FAA to issue a brief ground delay.

The FAA said it briefly slowed the flow of flights into the airport due to an unanticipated air traffic controller staffing issue.

The anticipated delay was expected to affect arriving and departing aircraft until around 7 p.m. The ground delay was lifted just after 6 p.m.

UPDATE: As of 6:01 p.m., the FAA has lifted the ground delay at BNA. — Fly Nashville (@Fly_Nashville) April 25, 2024

BNA advises passengers to check with your airline directly for the most up to date flight information.

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Airlines Required To Give Automatic Cash Refunds For Canceled And Delayed Flights

The Biden administration issued final rules Wednesday to require airlines to automatically issue cash refunds for things like delayed flights and to better disclose fees for baggage or canceling a reservation.

The Transportation Department said airlines will be required to provide automatic cash refunds within a few days for canceled flights and “significant” delays.

Under current regulations, airlines decide how long a delay must last before triggering refunds. The administration is removing that wiggle room by defining a significant delay as lasting at least three hours for domestic flights and six hours for international ones.

Airlines still will be allowed to offer another flight or a travel credit instead, but consumers can reject the offer.

The rule will also apply to refunds of checked-bag fees if the bag isn’t delivered within 12 hours for domestic flights or 15 to 30 hours for international flights. And it will apply to fees for things such as seat selection or an internet connection if the airline fails to provide the service.

Complaints about refunds skyrocketed during the COVID-19 pandemic, as airlines canceled flights and, even when they didn’t, many people didn’t feel safe sharing a plane cabin with other passengers.

Airlines for America, a trade group for large U.S. carriers, noted that refund complaints to the Transportation Department have fallen sharply since mid-2020. A spokesperson for the group said airlines “offer a range of options — including fully refundable fares — to increase accessibility to air travel and to help customers make ticket selections that best fit their needs.”

The group said the 11 largest U.S. airlines issued $43 billion in customer refunds from 2020 through 2023.

The Transportation Department issued a separate rule requiring airlines and ticket agents to disclose upfront what they charge for checked and carry-on bags and canceling or changing a reservation. On airline websites, the fees must be shown the first time customers see a price and schedule.

The rule will also oblige airlines to tell passengers they have a guaranteed seat they are not required to pay extra for, although it does not bar airlines from charging people to choose specific seats. Many airlines now charge extra for certain spots, including exit-row seats and those near the front of the cabin.

The agency said the rule will save consumers more than $500 million a year.

Airlines for America said its members “offer transparency and vast choice to consumers” from their first search.

The new rules will take effect over the next two years. They are part of a broad administration attack on what President Joe Biden calls “junk fees.” Last week, Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg announced that his department will let state officials in 15 states help enforce federal airline consumer protection laws .

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If my husband and I wish to stop at all the...

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Moscow Metro Questions & Answers

If my husband and I wish to stop at all the stations that are beautiful, without going outside the metro system, does this count as one journey? How many tickets do we buy?

Once you enter the system, you can travel to all of the stations on the same fare (less than $1). Just keep in mind that there are a lot of stations in the system and it will take more than a day to see all of the interesting ones.

Yes, you can see the beautiful stations on just one ticket provided you do not exit the metro via the turnstiles. Thus you can get out at each stop - wander around the metro station itself and then hop back on the next convenient train. The circle line (on the Moscow Metro Map it is a brown circle) is often considered to have some of the most beautiful stations. Though many of the other lines running inside the circle line also have beautiful stations.

If you are in Moscow for 3-4 days,then it is better to purchase a 20 ticket card which will cost you 747 Rubles.So,per trip,

the cost will be 37.50 Rubles.Reasonable.

You pay per trip, so this would be one trip. As long as you don’t go outside the station gate you are fine. It is really cheap per trip.

For your suggested trip take the main circle (inner circle) this will show you the old Stalin style stations which are beautiful

So far as I know you can travel anywhere on the underground on one ticket. You only have to pay again if you exit at a station to see parts of Moscow at ground level! Having said that, ticket costs are very reasonable and you can buy a card valid for several journeys (different options are available) at ticket offices. Few ticket office attendants seem to speak English, so you need someone with a good command of Russian here! Also, be aware that finding your way around stations and lines is easy enough since they are colour coded but take great care to check which platform you need to reach your required stop - this can be confusing if you find Cyrillic hard to read!!

55 Rubles for one way ticket

1 journey - 2 tickets - less than 100 RUB

I believe you can do it all on one journey. You only need the ticket to get through the barriers on the way in but you don't on the way out.

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Airlines are ordered to give full refunds instead of vouchers and to stop hiding fees

Travelers and their luggage in a terminal at Los Angeles International Airport in August 2023. Mario Tama/Getty Images hide caption

Travelers and their luggage in a terminal at Los Angeles International Airport in August 2023.

WASHINGTON — In an effort to crack down on airlines that charge passengers steep fees to check bags and change flights, the U.S. Department of Transportation has announced new regulations aimed at expanding consumer protections .

One of the final rules announced Wednesday requires airlines to show the full price of travel before passengers pay for their tickets. The other will force airlines to provide prompt cash refunds when flights are canceled or significantly changed.

"Passengers deserve to know upfront what costs they are facing and should get their money back when an airline owes them - without having to ask," said Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg in a statement announcing the new rules.

Taking on junk fees is popular. But can it win Biden more voters?

Surprise junk fees have become a large and growing source of revenue for airlines in recent years, according to the DOT.

"Today's announcements will require airlines to both provide passengers better information about costs before ticket purchase, and promptly provide cash refunds to passengers when they are owed — not only saving passengers time and money, but also preventing headaches," Buttigieg said.

The airline industry is unlikely to welcome the new rules. At a hearing on the proposed fee rule in March 2023, an industry lobbying group representing American, Delta and United said it would be too difficult for airlines to disclose their charges more clearly.

"The amount of unwanted and unneeded information forced upon passengers" by the new policy would only cause "confusion and frustration," warned Doug Mullen, the deputy general counsel at Airlines for America . "Very few, if any, need or want this information, and especially when they are initially trying to understand schedule and fare options."

But the DOT insists its new rule will give consumers the information they need to better understand the true costs of air travel.

Transportation Department cracks down on airline 'junk fees'

"I believe this is to the benefit of the sector as a whole," Buttigieg said in an interview with NPR's Morning Edition , because passengers will have "more confidence in the aviation sector."

The new rules require airlines to disclose all baggage, change, and cancellation fees, and to share that information with third-party booking sites and travel agents.

The regulation also prohibits bait-and-switch tactics, the DOT says, that disguise the true cost of flights by advertising a low base fare that does not include all mandatory fees.

"This is really about making sure that we create a better experience for passengers, and a stronger aviation sector in the United States," Buttigieg said in the NPR interview.

Claudia Looi

Touring the Top 10 Moscow Metro Stations

By Claudia Looi 2 Comments

Komsomolskaya metro station looks like a museum. It has vaulted ceilings and baroque decor.

Hidden underground, in the heart of Moscow, are historical and architectural treasures of Russia. These are Soviet-era creations – the metro stations of Moscow.

Our guide Maria introduced these elaborate metro stations as “the palaces for the people.” Built between 1937 and 1955, each station holds its own history and stories. Stalin had the idea of building beautiful underground spaces that the masses could enjoy. They would look like museums, art centers, concert halls, palaces and churches. Each would have a different theme. None would be alike.

The two-hour private tour was with a former Intourist tour guide named Maria. Maria lived in Moscow all her life and through the communist era of 60s to 90s. She has been a tour guide for more than 30 years. Being in her 60s, she moved rather quickly for her age. We traveled and crammed with Maria and other Muscovites on the metro to visit 10 different metro stations.

Arrow showing the direction of metro line 1 and 2

Moscow subways are very clean

To Maria, every street, metro and building told a story. I couldn’t keep up with her stories. I don’t remember most of what she said because I was just thrilled being in Moscow.   Added to that, she spilled out so many Russian words and names, which to one who can’t read Cyrillic, sounded so foreign and could be easily forgotten.

The metro tour was the first part of our all day tour of Moscow with Maria. Here are the stations we visited:

1. Komsomolskaya Metro Station  is the most beautiful of them all. Painted yellow and decorated with chandeliers, gold leaves and semi precious stones, the station looks like a stately museum. And possibly decorated like a palace. I saw Komsomolskaya first, before the rest of the stations upon arrival in Moscow by train from St. Petersburg.

2. Revolution Square Metro Station (Ploshchad Revolyutsii) has marble arches and 72 bronze sculptures designed by Alexey Dushkin. The marble arches are flanked by the bronze sculptures. If you look closely you will see passersby touching the bronze dog's nose. Legend has it that good luck comes to those who touch the dog's nose.

Touch the dog's nose for good luck. At the Revolution Square station

Revolution Square Metro Station

3. Arbatskaya Metro Station served as a shelter during the Soviet-era. It is one of the largest and the deepest metro stations in Moscow.

Arbatskaya Metro Station

4. Biblioteka Imeni Lenina Metro Station was built in 1935 and named after the Russian State Library. It is located near the library and has a big mosaic portrait of Lenin and yellow ceramic tiles on the track walls.

Lenin's portrait at the Biblioteka Imeni Lenina Metro Station

5. Kievskaya Metro Station was one of the first to be completed in Moscow. Named after the capital city of Ukraine by Kiev-born, Nikita Khruschev, Stalin's successor.

Kievskaya Metro Station

6. Novoslobodskaya Metro Station  was built in 1952. It has 32 stained glass murals with brass borders.

Novoslobodskaya metro station

7. Kurskaya Metro Station was one of the first few to be built in Moscow in 1938. It has ceiling panels and artwork showing Soviet leadership, Soviet lifestyle and political power. It has a dome with patriotic slogans decorated with red stars representing the Soviet's World War II Hall of Fame. Kurskaya Metro Station is a must-visit station in Moscow.

Ceiling panel and artworks at Kurskaya Metro Station

8. Mayakovskaya Metro Station built in 1938. It was named after Russian poet Vladmir Mayakovsky. This is one of the most beautiful metro stations in the world with 34 mosaics painted by Alexander Deyneka.

Mayakovskaya station

One of the over 30 ceiling mosaics in Mayakovskaya metro station

9. Belorusskaya Metro Station is named after the people of Belarus. In the picture below, there are statues of 3 members of the Partisan Resistance in Belarus during World War II. The statues were sculpted by Sergei Orlov, S. Rabinovich and I. Slonim.

10. Teatralnaya Metro Station (Theatre Metro Station) is located near the Bolshoi Theatre.

Teatralnaya Metro Station decorated with porcelain figures .

Taking the metro's escalator at the end of the tour with Maria the tour guide.

Have you visited the Moscow Metro? Leave your comment below.

January 15, 2017 at 8:17 am

An excellent read! Thanks for much for sharing the Russian metro system with us. We're heading to Moscow in April and exploring the metro stations were on our list and after reading your post, I'm even more excited to go visit them. Thanks again 🙂

December 6, 2017 at 10:45 pm

Hi, do you remember which tour company you contacted for this tour?

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The Most Beautiful Stations on the Moscow Metro

You might have heard that there are some beautiful metro stations in Moscow. Soviet decorations, chandeliers, mosaic painting and statues are common in many of the stations. The good news is that the Moscow Metro does not cost a lot of money and many of the most beautiful stations on the Moscow metro are on the same line, so you can almost get on and off at each station to visit these. Over the New Year holidays, I had a free afternoon and decided to visit some of these stations. Check out what I found below…..

The main stations that you will want to visit are on the Number 5 line, also known as the Circle Line. An advantage of this line is that you can get to it very easily and quickly no matter where you are in Moscow. The announcements on the metro are in Russian as well as English so you don’t need to worry if your Russian language skills are not good.

If, like me, you arrive in Moscow via train from Kyiv , then you will arrive at a metro station which many Muscovites believe to be the most beautiful of them all…..

Kievskaya metro station was opened in 1954 and features white marble walls which curve upwards and have with large mosaics surrounded by a gold trim in a very classical style. The mosaics depict life in Ukraine and was designed by a Ukrainian who wanted to display Ukraine’s influence and contribution to Soviet Russia.

Kievskaya, one of the most beautiful stations on the Moscow metro

Soviet era artwork between the arches

Mosaic with golden trim

People carrying flags is a common theme

Going into battle

Belorusskaya

If you look at a map of the metro , you will want to go in a clockwise direction on the circle line. So you will want to get on the train going in the Barrikadnaya direction and not Park Kultury. Stay on this line until you reach the 2nd station, Belorusskaya. This station was built in 1952 and like Kievskaya also features white marble pylons and a plaster ceiling.

The ceiling features 12 mosaics in an octagonal shape depicting Belarusian life, while the tiling on the floor is said to resemble a Belarusian quilt. One of the passageway exits of the station has a statue called ‘Belarusian Partisans’ of three men wearing long coats, holding guns and carrying a flag.”

Belorusskaya metro platform

Soviet artwork on the roof

The hammer and sickle features prominently in the metro artwork

Three men carrying guns, holding the flag…

Mayakovskaya

To get to the next station, we need to change onto the green line (line 2) and go just one stop to the station of Mayakovskaya. This station has an art deco theme and, for some, resembles an elaborate ballroom. The columns are faced with stainless steel and pink rhodonite while the marble walls and ceiling have 34 mosaics with the theme “24-hour Soviet Sky. Apparently, Stalin resided here during the 2nd World War as the station was used as a command post for Moscow’s anti-aircraft regiment.

Mayakovskaya metro

24-Hour Soviet Sky mosaic

Bomber planes

It looks like planes flying over Red Square

Novoslobodskaya

It’s time to get back on the metro and return to Belorusskaya. At Belorusskaya, change to the circle line again and continue clockwise to the next station, Novoslobodskaya. With its 32 stained glass panels, this station reminds me of a church. The panels were designed by Latvian artists and are surrounded by a brass border.

Novoslobodskaya metro

The platform of Novoslobodskaya metro

Stained glass artwork

The golden trim around artwork is also very common

Prospekt Mira

Back on the metro and again just one stop until our next station, Prospekt Mira. This station was originally called Botanichesky Sad after the nearby Botanical Gardens of the Moscow State University. The pylons are covered in white marble and decorated with floral bas-relief friezes. The ceiling is decorated with casts and several cylindrical chandeliers.

Prospekt Mira metro station

Notice the floral decoration

Komsomolskaya

On the metro once more and once more we are going just one stop to the next station – Komsomolskaya. This station is famous for its its yellow ceiling. The chandeliers in this station are huge. The photos below do not do this station justice.  For me, this station resembles a presidential palace.  You hace to see it for yourself to truly appreciate it.

Because of it’s location, this is one of the busiest stations in the Moscow metro as it serves three of the main train stations in the city – Leningradsky, Yaroslavsky, and Kazansky so be prepared for a lot of people.

Komsomolskaya metro

The yellow ceiling seems to go on forever

Yellow ceiling and artwork

One of the ceiling mosaics

Elektrozavodskaya

When you are ready to leave Komsomolskaya metro station behind, then get back on the circle line and go one stop to Kurskaya and change to the blue line (line 3) and go to two stops to the Elektrozavodskaya station. This station gets it’s name from a nearby electric light bulb factory and has a somewhat industrial but also futuristic style, with 6 rows of circular lamps (there are 318 lamps in total). I think this is one of the most beautiful stations on the Moscow metro for how unique it is. The station was opened in 1944 after a delay because of the 2nd World War and features 12 marble bas-reliefs of the struggle on the home front during the war.

The Komsomolskaya metro station

The struggles of war at home

Fixing machinery

Hard at work

Making weapons

Building a tank

Even the station sign is elaborate

Ploschad Revolyutsii

Back on the metro line 3 (but in the other direction), getting off at the 3rd stop – Ploschad Revolyutsii (Revolution Square). This is located underneath the square in Moscow of the same name and is a short walk from Red Square in the city centre. It is the perfect place to end a visit around Moscow’s metro. The station features red and yellow marble arches with a total of 76 sculptures in between each arch. The sculptures are supposed to represent the people of the Soviet Union and include soldiers, farmers, industrial workers, children etc… I noticed a lot of people touching the golden chicken in the photo below as well as the show of the woman. I am assuming that this is for good luck.

Industrial worker

Touch the chicken for good luck

Sculpture of the people of the Soviet Union

Woman reading a book – touch the shoe for good luck

In education

Parent and child

These are some of what I think are the most beautiful stations on the Moscow metro. Which ones are your favourite? Would you add any to this list?

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19 comments.

Kievskaya definitely caught me off guard. Didn’t know Moscow metro stations were THIS extravagant! Mayakovskaya is gorgeous too with the marble walls and mosaics. I might just need to book a flight over to admire all of these!

Do it! Kievskaya was my first introduction to the Moscow metro as I got an overnight train from Kyiv.

You know, in the States, all we ever hear is bad stuff about Russia. It’s nice to see other (and lovely!) dimensions of such a controversial place.

It’s the same in the UK which is why I prefer going to see somewhere and making up my own mind. It’s all ‘politics and bullshit’ as I say

I went to Moscow about 13years for Christmas and went to train stations, so I can see these amazing mosaics and chandeliers. I agree with you that are beautiful Stations for sure and I could of wandered around for days. I think Kievskaya is definitely my favourite out of them all and I even have some similar pictures as you.

I imagine Moscow would have been a little different 13 years ago but these stations have probably always looked beautiful

Food and Footprints

You chose some great stations for this write up! Beautiful details in these stations and would love to visit them sometime. Particularly like the Komsomolskaya station with that yellow ceiling!

Thank you very much. Komsomolskaya seems to be a lot of peoples favourite stations too

Sumit Surai

Wow! Without the text I would have thought them to be some museum or gallery.

I know exactly what you mean!

Rosie Fluskey

Wow, it is just stunning! How does anyone get to work with so much to look at. I’m surprised at the very bourgeois-looking Komsomolskaya station. I would have thought it was all too Tzarist looking, but then I haven’t been to Russia yet lol. This has just made me want to go more!

Wow, that’s a lot of artwork. I wonder how old some of these pieces are?

Generally most of the stations are from 1940-1960 approximately. The later stations are more functional than style.

My mother-in-law was in Moscow fifty years ago and still raves about the metro stations. So far, I could not imagine much. But now! The pictures are great and I think it’s almost a pity that this splendor is underground. But for every user of the Metro can enjoy a free trip to the world of art. Susanne

True. It is like having a free trip to an art museum/gallery. I hope that you can one day visit Moscow and see for yourself.

Oh wow, I would never have known that these were metro stations. The ceilings remind me of how you need to look up sometimes, even in the commuter rush!

It is true about life in general, we just go from A to B looking directly in front of us instead of around us

Wow, I would have never guessed that these were stations. The decor is so pretty and not one I’m used to seeing at metro stations. Love the ceiling at The Komsomolskaya metro station.

They certainly don’t look like metro stations. The ceiling there is one of my favourites too!

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Ukraine-Russia war latest: Devastation of Ukrainian town laid bare in drone footage - as Russia 'shifting battlefield focus'

Aerial images of the eastern town of Chasiv Yar have revealed the effects of Russian bombardment. A leading thinktank has suggested Moscow's battlefield focus may have shifted towards the town. Listen to a Daily podcast on whether the UK should send troops to Ukraine as you scroll.

Wednesday 1 May 2024 19:24, UK

• Drone footage reveals ghost town left after Russian bombardment  
• The signs Moscow's battlefield focus could be shifting
• Your questions answered: Why can't Ukraine destroy key Crimean bridge?
• Listen to the Sky News Daily above and  tap here  to follow wherever you get your podcasts
• Live reporting by Katie Williams and (earlier)  Lauren Russell

Washington has accused Moscow of violating an international treaty by using a First World War-era chemical weapon in Ukraine.

The state department said Russia has deployed the choking agent chloropicrin against Ukrainian troops and used riot control agents "as a method of warfare".

According to the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, chloropicrin is an irritant "with characteristics of a tear gas".

It was used by Germany against allied troops during the First World War but has since been banned for military use.

"The use of such chemicals is not an isolated incident and is probably driven by Russian forces' desire to dislodge Ukrainian forces from fortified positions and achieve tactical gains on the battlefield," the state department said in a statement. 

The Russian embassy didn't immediately respond to a request for comment.

In Ukraine's partially occupied Donetsk region, troops continue to fight back against Russian forces on the frontline.

Moscow is heavily focusing on the eastern region, where it claims to have captured several towns and villages.

In these pictures, Ukrainian soldiers fire a howitzer at Russian positions.

The US has imposed new sanctions on three people connected to the death of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny.

Mr Navalny died at a remote Arctic prison in February in unknown circumstances.

Russian authorities say he died of natural causes while his supporters believe he was killed. Western leaders quickly held Vladimir Putin responsible - but a US intelligence report earlier this week found the Russian president likely didn't directly order Mr Navalny's death.

The three individuals are among hundreds of people and entities targeted in Washington's new round of Russia-related sanctions.

A notice on the treasury's website said companies connected to Russia's Arctic liquefied natural gas 2 project were among those hit with sanctions.

Restrictions have also been slapped on Russian air carrier Pobeda, a subsidiary of the country's largest airline Aeroflot.

Ukrainian ground troops have been handed 20 new Toyota pickup trucks through funds allocated to one of the military's brigades.

Vitali Klitschko, the mayor of Kyiv, said 60 million hryvnias (£1.2m) has been set aside by the capital for the 3rd Separate Assault Brigade of the Ground Forces.

The trucks were purchased for half of this amount, he said.

Thanking Kyiv for the donation, Major Maksym Zhorin, deputy commander of the third brigade, said the vehicles were "extremely important" as they are used for evacuating soldiers, deliveries and some logistics tasks.

Three children have been "rescued" from Russian-occupied territory in Kherson, the Ukrainian regional governor has said.

Oleksandr Prokudin said a girl aged 11, and two boys, nine and 11, were receiving psychological help and medical care after the "rescue mission".

The governor said 66 children from Kherson had been returned to territory controlled by Ukraine since the start of the war. 

Kherson is one of Ukraine's southernmost regions.

It lends its name to the region's capital city in the northwest, which was the first major city to fall to the Russians after they invaded in 2022.

At least 19,500 children have been confirmed as abducted by Russia since the start of its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, according to the Children of War database.

If you're just joining us or briefly dipping in, here's a quick rundown of all the key events so far today:

• Russia's focus on the battlefield may be shifting north of Avdiivka, according to a leading US thinktank. It said troops appear to be concentrating more in the direction of Chasiv Yar;
• Keeping on Chasiv Yar, drone footage released by Ukraine's police patrol shows the scale of bombardment in the city. Russian aggression is thought to be focusing there due to its potential to lead to cities further in the east;
• Two people have died and six people have been injured - including an 11-year-old boy - after Russian guided bombs struck the region of Kharkiv;
• The Russian military claimed it has attacked the headquarters of the Ukrainian army's southern grouping. The attack was carried out using Russian air force missiles and artillery, Moscow's defence ministry said. 

An exhibition showing more than 30 pieces of Western military equipment captured from Ukrainian forces has opened in the Russian capital.

A US-made M1 Abrams battle tank, a Leopard 2 tank and a Marder armoured infantry vehicle from Germany, and a French-made AMX-10RC armoured vehicle are on display.

The month-long exhibit at the Second World War memorial in Moscow was branded a "brilliant idea" by Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov.

The Russian authorities have criticised supplies of Western weapons and military equipment to Ukraine, casting them as evidence of NATO's direct involvement in the conflict.

Britain, the US and the European Union are pressing the United Arab Emirates to show it is cracking down on firms evading sanctions imposed on Russia.

Three separate Western sources said they are particularly concerned about the UAE exporting computer chips, electronics, machinery and other sanctioned products to Russia that could be used to aid Moscow's military effort against Ukraine.

Some exports have increased since Russia was hit with Western sanctions, the sources claimed.

Western states implemented sanctions against Russia soon after the war began in February 2022 but other countries do not necessarily have to apply them too.

A UAE official said it remains in close dialogue with its international partners, including the US and EU, concerning the ongoing conflict in Ukraine and its implications for the global economy.

Months of Russian artillery strikes have devastated the strategically important town of Chasiv Var in eastern Ukraine.

Drone footage - reminiscent of Bakhmut after its capture by Moscow's forces last year - lays bare the effects of strikes on the town, once home to 12,000 people.

Russia's focus may be shifting more towards Chasiv Yar, which is around 80km north of Avdiivka, as if captured it would make it easier for Moscow to advance further in the east.

Ukraine hopes to store 4bn cubic metres of gas from foreign companies and traders this winter despite an increase in Russian attacks on energy infrastructure. 

Oleksiy Chernyshov, chief executive of state energy company Naftogaz, said Russia had attacked company infrastructure five times since March.

The company is working on strengthening defences that can protect vulnerable above ground gas facilities, but stresses it has underground facilities big enough to store 31bn cubic metres.

That's enough for Ukraine's annual needs and surplus storage from Europe. 

Storing gas helps Ukraine to make a profit while providing Europe with additional supply flexibility after the continent cut Russian gas imports at the start of the war. 

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