Travelers passing through San Diego International Airport on Saturday morning ran into significant delays after an American Airlines jet reported a potential engine fire, prompting airport authorities to issue a ground stop that backed up flights across the terminal.

American Airlines flight AAL3131, arriving from Dallas, reported the possible engine issue on approach Saturday morning. Emergency vehicles responded on the taxiway, and the aircraft was surrounded by airport fire trucks as crews assessed the situation.

The ground stop halted both departing and arriving flights at SAN for a period, creating a ripple effect that disrupted travel plans across the region. For East County residents using San Diego International — the primary airport for Santee, El Cajon, La Mesa, and surrounding communities — the timing was particularly disruptive, falling on a Saturday of spring break travel season.

As of midday Saturday, the airport was working to resume normal operations. Authorities did not confirm whether the engine issue represented a genuine fire or a false alarm. Passengers affected by the delays were advised to check their airline's app for updated departure information.

San Diego International Airport is the busiest single-runway commercial airport in the United States, meaning ground stops caused by safety incidents can have outsized effects on wait times compared to larger multi-runway facilities.