FAA orders nationwide ground stop for all US aircraft due to communications failure

The Federal Aviation Administration ordered a nationwide ground stop for all departing aircraft in the United States on November 13, 2026, following a communications failure. The suspension affects all departing flights across the country due to a technical problem impacting Air Route Traffic Control Centers. While aircraft already in flight are permitted to land, all other departing aircraft must remain on the ground until further notice.

Scope of flight disruptions

The communication failure has caused significant disruption to air travel across the United States. As of 4:45 PM EST on November 13, 2026, FlightAware reported that over 7,800 flights were delayed and approximately 350 flights were cancelled. Major airports reported substantial delays as the system failure impacted various regions.

Specific delay figures reported by various airports include:

• Atlanta airport: 385 delays

• Chicago airport: 395 delays

• Dallas-Fort Worth airport: 327 delays

• Denver airport: 284 delays

• Los Angeles airport: 266 delays

• LaGuardia airport: 228 delays

• JFK airport and Orlando airport: 199 delays each

• San Francisco airport: 249 delays

• Boston airport: 189 delays

The Federal Aviation Administration noted that international flights arriving in the United States will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis. Some international carriers have already reported the impact of the suspension. Santiago International Airport reported cancellations for flights traveling to Miami, New York, and Los Angeles, while LATAM issued a statement noting that some flights may be affected by the temporary suspension.

Official responses and security assessments

U.S. Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy stated that the suspension is due to a communication problem affecting all en-route air traffic control centers. While the technical failure has halted departures, officials have addressed concerns regarding the nature of the interruption. U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Markwayne Mullin stated that there is no evidence of a malicious attack and characterized the event as a telecommunications interruption.

The FBI does not consider the communication problem to be a cyberattack or criminal activity. Additionally, Verizon reported that its network is functioning normally and the company has no knowledge of issues related to air traffic control systems.

Historical context of ground stops

The Federal Aviation Administration manages an average of over 45,000 daily flights and serves approximately 2.9 million airline passengers every day. The current nationwide restriction represents the third time the agency has implemented such a measure in the 21st century. The previous nationwide ground stops occurred in September 2001 and January 2023. Prior to the implementation of the national order, the Federal Aviation Administration had already halted air traffic in Chicago because of the communication issues.

Glossary

• Federal Aviation Administration — The Federal Aviation Administration is an agency that manages an average of over 45,000 daily flights and serves approximately 2.9 million airline passengers every day. It has the authority to implement nationwide ground stops for departing aircraft.
• Air Route Traffic Control Centers — Air Route Traffic Control Centers (ARTCC) are facilities operated by employees within the Air Traffic Organization (ATO). They are part of the air navigation services provided within the National Airspace System.