Friday, November 13, 2026 - Air travel across the United States has been thrown into disruption after the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) ordered a nationwide ground stop, halting departing flights at airports throughout the country following a widespread communications outage affecting air traffic control operations.
The unprecedented precautionary measure was issued Friday afternoon, November 13, after telecommunications problems affected the 22 regional air route traffic control centres responsible for coordinating aircraft movements between airports.
The FAA ordered airlines and aircraft operators to keep departing aircraft grounded, citing extraordinary circumstances and safety concerns.
The ground stop was initially scheduled to remain in effect until at least 11:00 p.m. Eastern Time, while technicians worked to investigate and restore the affected communications systems.
U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy confirmed that technical teams were working to address the disruption. Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin indicated that officials were treating the incident as a telecommunications outage, with no indication at the time of a cyberattack or deliberate threat.
Authorities have also sought to reassure the travelling public that aircraft already in the air had been accounted for and would be allowed to land safely. International flights entering U.S. airspace were being handled on a case-by-case basis.
The disruption has affected major airlines, including American Airlines and United Airlines, with passengers reporting delays, cancellations and uncertainty at airports across the country.
The ground stop is particularly significant for travellers using the United States as a connecting hub for international travel. Passengers travelling between the Caribbean and destinations elsewhere may also experience disruptions where their journeys involve U.S. airports.
The incident is a reminder of how heavily modern aviation depends on reliable communications and air traffic control infrastructure. Even when aircraft remain operational, a breakdown in the systems used to coordinate and monitor air traffic can bring departures to a halt.
Travellers scheduled to fly through the United States are being advised to contact their airlines directly, monitor flight updates and avoid travelling to airports without first checking their flight status.
The cause of the communications failure remains under investigation, and further information is expected as authorities work to restore normal operations.