Air traffic controllers were forced to use their personal cell phones to reroute hundreds of flights Tuesday after the Federal Aviation Administration 's Memphis Center lost radar and telephone service for more than two hours , snarling air traffic in the middle of the nation . FAA lost phone , radar lost ; serviced restored at 3 p.m . ET Tuesday . Air controllers could not communicate to hand off control of flights , FAA said . ` ` Significant delays '' at Dallas - Fort Worth ; Atlanta ; Charlotte , North Carolina . Delta , based in Memphis , diverted its aircraft to other cities , spokesman said .
FAA lost phone , radar lost ; serviced restored at 3 p.m . ET Tuesday . Air controllers could not communicate to hand off control of flights , FAA said . ` ` Significant delays '' at Dallas - Fort Worth ; Atlanta ; Charlotte , North Carolina . Delta , based in Memphis , diverted its aircraft to other cities , spokesman said .