Orlando International Airport Operations Halted After Control Tower Evacuation
Orlando, Sunday, 1 February 2026.
Orlando International halted operations Sunday following a control tower evacuation. A sprinkler activated by cold weather reportedly triggered the alarm, causing a ground stop and delaying nearly 250 flights.
Timeline of the Disturbance
The disruption to operations at Orlando International Airport (MCO) began on the afternoon of Sunday, February 1, 2026, when a fire alarm necessitated the immediate evacuation of the air traffic control tower [1]. According to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), a ground stop was implemented as a mandatory safety protocol to allow for an investigation into reports of a “possible fire” within the critical infrastructure [2][3]. Emergency crews from Orlando International Airport Fire Rescue (ARFF) responded to the scene at approximately 3:30 p.m. to assess the threat [3]. While the evacuation forced air traffic controllers to abandon their posts, subsequent inspections determined that the alarm was not caused by combustion; rather, a sprinkler system inside the tower had been activated due to cold weather conditions [3].
Operational Impact and Flight Data
The halt in air traffic control services created immediate logistical bottlenecks during a high-traffic travel weekend. During the active ground stop, no inbound flights were permitted to land, and all departing aircraft were held stationary at their gates [2]. The statistical impact was significant, with data showing that 248 flights were delayed and at least 33 flights were canceled as a direct result of the evacuation [2]. To manage the airspace congestion, several incoming aircraft were diverted to alternative regional hubs, specifically Tampa International Airport (TPA) and Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL) [2].
Resumption of Services
The operational freeze was lifted at 4:15 p.m., allowing the airport to return to normal flight operations [3]. Although the root cause—a weather-induced sprinkler activation—was resolved relatively quickly, the volume of backed-up flights suggests that passengers may continue to experience residual schedule adjustments as airlines work to clear the queue of delayed aircraft [3][GPT].