'Literally about to take off': Baywatch star Brooks Nader stranded on private jet after FAA grounds US flights

Baywatch actress Brooks Nader was ready to jet off from New York to Louisiana when an unexpected aviation alert brought her travel plans to a halt. The Baywatch star found herself stranded on a private aircraft after the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) ordered a rare nationwide ground stop on Friday. The model was reportedly heading home to attend an LSU football game when the order was issued. The disruption affected departing flights across the United States, leaving travellers, including several Hollywood personalities, caught in the chaos.

Brooks Nader stranded on private jet amid FAA ground stop

TMZ, citing sources, shared that the Baywatch actress was “literally about to take off” from New York for Louisiana when the FAA issued its unusual order, directing all departing flights across the country to remain grounded. Sources close to Brooks told the outlet that she was travelling to her home state to attend the LSU football game.

What happened?

The FAA issued the nationwide halt at around 1 p.m. PT on Friday, citing “extraordinary circumstances” and “reasons of safety”, according to US Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy. It took to X and shared, "There has been a temporary telecommunications outage - out of an abundance of caution all flights have been halted. Every flight has been accounted for and international flights will be handled on a case by case basis."


Several major airports were already dealing with delays. Chicago's O'Hare and Midway airports had also faced ground stops linked to equipment outages.

The halt lasted approximately four hours, but its impact extended beyond regular travellers. With the American Film Market, the Governors Awards and several FYC panels scheduled over the following days, many Hollywood insiders were also left grounded during a busy travel weekend. The American Film Market was particularly affected, with several events cancelled as dealmakers prepared for the final days of the sales event.

FAA once again tweeted, "The safety of the flying public is always the FAA’s highest priority. The FAA lifted the ground stop and some flight departures are resuming. Before clearing flights to resume, we thoroughly tested our systems to confirm they were stable and that operations remain reliable. Passengers should contact their airlines for flight updates."

Who is Brooks Nader?

Brooks Claire Nader is an American model and television personality who shot to fame after winning the 2019 Sports Illustrated Swim Search and then was featured in the magazine for three consecutive years. In 2024, she was part of the Dancing With Stars season 33. She is currently gearing up for Fox's upcoming 2027 Baywatch reboot.