The US Federal Aviation Administration grounded all departing flights nationwide on Friday following a communications failure that hit air traffic control centers across the country.
The nationwide ground stop applies to departures from airports across the country, meaning aircraft waiting on the tarmac cannot take off, while planes already airborne are permitted to land.
US Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy confirmed that a communications issue is affecting the 22 regional air route traffic control centers that direct planes en route between airports nationwide. FAA technicians are investigating the failure, which forced the agency to halt departing traffic until further notice, disrupting thousands of flights. International flights heading into the United States are being managed on a case-by-case basis.
The @FAAnews issued a nationwide ground stop for all U. S. airports following a communication issue impacting all Air Route Traffic Control Centers. FAA technicians are investigating the issue. We will provide immediate updates as we have them.
This is only the second nationwide ground stop in the United States since the September 11 terror attacks. The last such nationwide halt occurred in January 2023, when a failure in the FAA’s Notice to Air Missions system forced a temporary pause in domestic departures.
US Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin said that the incident stems from a routine telecommunications outage rather than any hostile action.
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.
“We had no reason to believe that — as of right now, that this was a threat to the United States,” said Markwayne Mullin, Secretary of Homeland Security. “It’s just a telecommunications outage … everybody’s safe. There’s no reason to be concerned about your loved ones if they’re flying.”
Investigation into Outdated Technology
Investigators are examining whether the telecommunications outage has any connection to the FAA’s nationwide rollout of a new artificial intelligence system designed to help identify problems and reroute planes. However, that system operates out of a single location near Washington, DC, and only sends recommendations to the regional air traffic control centers.
Here is @FAANews statement from its website pic.twitter.com/QeMOyNDzk1
Aviation safety expert Steve Arroyo said that the widespread disruption bears similarities to a regional air traffic control communication outage that snarled hundreds of flights across the US Northeast in September, pointing to legacy infrastructure issues.
“If you don’t have that ability, whether it’s because the old wires that they have are just run down or for whatever reason, you’ve got to stop airplanes on the ground,” said Steve Arroyo, former United Airlines pilot. “And not put them in the air where you’re going to risk not being able to communicate with them.”
Congress approved $12.5 billion last year to help overhaul outdated air traffic control technology, replacing miles of old copper wires with fiber optic lines and upgrading airport radio systems. Yet, Secretary Duffy indicated that an additional $30 billion will be required to finish the modernization work, prompting the White House to lobby Congress for further funding.
Airlines and airports manage passenger impact from flight suspensions
Airlines and international airport operators are working to manage passenger impacts as schedules stall. Dublin Airport warned passengers on X that the suspension could impact both arriving and departing flights between Ireland and the United States on Saturday morning, November 14, 2026.
Passenger Update We are aware of the current suspension of flights departing from the United States. It remains unclear how long this suspension will remain in effect, and there is a possibility that it could impact both arriving and departing flights between Dublin Airport… pic.twitter.com/HMfIaPZ078
Aer Lingus announced that it is monitoring the situation closely and will communicate directly with customers. The carrier said that flights en route to the US will be permitted to land, while departures from US airports remain on hold.
Flight-data firm Cirium recorded 11,000 flights scheduled to depart US airports after 4 p.m. Eastern Time on Friday. Prolonged ground stops typically cause widespread disruptions as flight crews reach their maximum daily duty hours.
Only the second time since 9/11 that the FAA has ordered a full ground stop https://t.co/f3OUOs9Qb1 pic.twitter.com/OzXsh9lFRR
Questions about the FAA ground stop and flight status
When will the FAA lift the nationwide ground stop?
There is currently no timeline for restarting departing flights as FAA technicians continue to investigate the communications failure. Inbound international flights are evaluated and handled individually on a case-by-case basis.
Are flights currently in the air affected by the stoppage?
Planes already airborne when the ground stop was implemented are permitted to continue to their destinations and land safely. Pilots are able to communicate with ground controllers at destination airports.
The FAA has issued a nationwide ground stop for all flights. Travelers should confirm their flight status with their airline before heading to the airport.
How can travelers check the status of their flights?
Passengers traveling to, from, or within the United States are advised to contact their airline directly or check airline websites for real-time schedule updates and rebooking options.
More on United States
The FAA has temporarily paused departures nationwide. Flights already in the air can continue to their destinations. We expect disruption to our schedule for the rest of the day, depending on the length of the FAA’s nationwide ground stop. It will be all hands on deck across…
TRAVEL ALERT: A nationwide ground stop has been issued by the FAA at DEN and other airports for departing flights. Airborne flights are still able to arrive. Passengers should check directly with their airline for their latest flight status.
Related reading