Amtrak ticket booking problems hit travelers during nationwide FAA ground stop

Travelers reported errors while trying to book tickets on Amtrak’s website and app Friday as a nationwide Federal Aviation Administration ground stop disrupted U.S. air travel. FOX 5 DC reported that hundreds of users flagged booking problems on Downdetector, with reports rising shortly before 5 p.m. and again just before 6 p.m. EST.

Amtrak communications director W. Kyle Anderson told FOX 5 DC that trains were operating normally and demand had increased across the network. In a separate reply to a customer on X, Amtrak linked the booking problems to a systemwide update. When FOX 5 DC called the support number shown in the error message, an automated recording said calls could not be taken because of unusually high volume.

The FAA said it ordered the ground stop because of a temporary telecommunications outage.