Based on the research, I can explain why your flow runs might appear stuck in "Running" status. This typically happens due to several common scenarios: 1. Infrastructure Issues: - Out-of-memory errors - Container or pod evictions - Network disconnections - Infrastructure provisioning failures 2. Code or Configuration Problems: - Syntax errors in the flow code - Missing dependencies - Authentication issues with storage or remote resources - Worker configuration problems 3. Communication Issues: - Network spikes causing disconnection between your worker and the Prefect API - Worker termination without proper cleanup - Infrastructure shutdown without proper state reporting To resolve this issue: 1. Check the Logs: - Look at both the worker logs and flow run logs in the Prefect UI - Check your infrastructure logs (e.g., Kubernetes, ECS, or local system logs) 2. Implement Proper Error Handling:

python
   from prefect import flow
   
   @flow(timeout_seconds=3600)  # Set a reasonable timeout
   def your_flow():
       try:
           # Your flow code here
           pass
       except Exception as e:
           # Log the error and raise it to ensure proper state transition
           raise

3. Use Infrastructure Timeouts: - Configure appropriate timeouts for your infrastructure - For Kubernetes, set resource limits and timeouts - For Docker, consider setting container timeouts 4. Manual Cleanup: If you encounter a stuck flow run, you can: - Use the Prefect UI to mark the flow run as failed - Use the Prefect CLI:

prefect flow-run cancel <flow-run-id>

- Check for and clean up any orphaned infrastructure To prevent this in the future: 1. Always implement proper error handling in your flows 2. Set appropriate timeouts both at the flow level and infrastructure level 3. Monitor your worker health and infrastructure resources 4. Ensure your network connectivity is stable between workers and the Prefect API For more details on flow states and troubleshooting, you can refer to: - Prefect States Documentation - How to Run Flows Guide