Honestly, if you were trying to catch a Delta flight out of Detroit Metro (DTW) this morning, you probably noticed things were a little "off." Between a presidential visit and some lingering technical headaches, it hasn’t exactly been a smooth Tuesday for the McNamara Terminal.
The big story today, January 13, 2026, isn't just a single plane or a missed connection. It's the massive security bubble that landed right on top of Delta’s primary hub. President Trump arrived at DTW earlier today for a high-profile visit to the Detroit Economic Club and a tour of the Ford Rouge Center in Dearborn. Whenever Air Force One touches down, the FAA doesn't just ask people to move; they basically put a temporary "padlock" on the airspace.
The Delta Ground Stop and the "Trump Effect"
If you’ve ever been stuck on the tarmac at DTW, you know that even a ten-minute delay can turn into a two-hour nightmare. Today, the Romulus Fire Department and local police were on high alert as the President’s motorcade prepped to leave the airport grounds.
For Delta passengers, this meant a Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR). Basically, for a window of time this morning, nothing was moving in or out of the McNamara Terminal. Delta, which handles the lion’s share of traffic at Detroit, felt the brunt of it. We saw a spike in "gate holds"—that's when you're sitting on the plane, the doors are shut, but the pilot tells you the tower hasn't cleared you for taxiing yet.
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It’s worth noting that while the presidential arrival caused the most visible friction, there’s been some chatter about "connectivity issues" again. You might remember the mess back in early December when a network outage crippled Delta’s operations here. While today’s hiccups seem mostly related to the TFR and security protocols, some travelers reported slow check-in kiosks early this morning. Delta hasn't confirmed a secondary IT hit, but the combination of heavy security and peak morning travel made for some very long lines at security.
Why McNamara Terminal Gets Hit Harder
Delta basically owns the McNamara Terminal. Because of that, any localized issue—whether it's a security sweep for a VIP or a glitch in the terminal's specific server rack—hits Delta passengers exclusively. If you were flying Spirit or American out of the Evans Terminal today, you probably had a much easier time.
The "ripple effect" is real. When Air Force One lands, the FAA often issues a ground stop that can last anywhere from 15 to 45 minutes. That sounds short. It isn't. In an airport that handles hundreds of Delta departures a day, stopping the clock for 30 minutes creates a backlog that takes the rest of the afternoon to clear.
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- Arrivals: Several inbound flights from ATL and MSP were forced into holding patterns over Lake Erie.
- Departures: Flights to Grand Rapids (GRR) and Indianapolis (IND) saw the most frequent gate delays.
- Security: TSA checkpoints at McNamara saw "heavy volume" warnings as passengers arrived early to beat the road closures.
Dealing With the "Ripple Effect"
If you're heading to the airport now, you've gotta check the Fly Delta app. Seriously. Don't rely on the departure boards in the terminal; they can sometimes lag behind the actual real-time status of the aircraft.
One thing people get wrong is thinking that once the President leaves the airport, everything goes back to normal. It doesn't. The motorcade routes through I-94 and the surrounding Romulus area can stay congested for hours. If you’re driving to the airport this afternoon, give yourself an extra 45 minutes just for the "surface street" chaos.
What You Should Do Right Now
If your flight was one of those caught in the morning ground stop, you might be eligible for a waiver if the delay stretches long enough. Delta is usually pretty good about "proactive rebooking," but you have to be the one to pull the trigger in the app.
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- Check the tail number: Use a site like FlightAware to see where your specific plane is coming from. If that plane is stuck in the TFR backlog, your departure time is going to slide.
- Monitor the TFR status: These restrictions are usually lifted shortly after the motorcade clears the immediate vicinity of Romulus, but drone restrictions remain in place all day.
- Check-in remotely: Avoid the kiosks if you can. With the high volume of "stressed" travelers today, the manual baggage drop lines are moving slower than usual.
Moving Forward
The good news? The worst of the "ground stop" is behind us for today. As the President moves toward the Detroit Economic Club at MotorCity Casino, the airspace over DTW has largely returned to "normal" operations, though Delta is still playing catch-up.
Keep an eye on the weather, too. While the tech and security stuff is the headline, a slight wintry mix is expected later this week which could complicate the "recovery" of these delayed flight schedules. Basically, if you're flying Delta out of Detroit today, bring a charger, a snack, and a lot of patience.
Stay updated by following the official DTW Twitter (or X) account and keeping your Delta notifications turned on. The "domino effect" of a morning delay can sometimes catch up to you during an evening connection, even if your specific flight looks "on time" right now.
Actionable Next Steps:
- Open the Fly Delta app and verify your "estimated departure" hasn't shifted in the last 30 minutes.
- If you're currently at the airport, look for "Red Coats" (Delta's elite customer service agents) near the gate if you need to rebook a tight connection.
- Avoid the I-94 corridors near Dearborn if you are driving to the airport this afternoon to avoid residual motorcade traffic.