FAA orders nationwide US flight ground stop due to communication issues

The Federal Aviation Administration ordered a nationwide ground stop for all departing flights in the United States on November 13, 2026, citing extraordinary circumstances and safety concerns. This order halted all departing aircraft across the country, although flights already in the air were permitted to land at their destinations. International flights were handled on a case-by-case basis during the disruption.

The communication issue affected all Air Route Traffic Control Centers that coordinate flights across United States airspace. This technical failure resulted in approximately 15,000 flights being canceled or delayed. While the ground stop was in effect, Flightradar24 reported that approximately 3,000 flights remained in the air. Some airports entered ATC Zero status, which means no air traffic control services could be provided at those locations.

Technical failures and equipment issues

The disruption lasted approximately 4 hours before air traffic began to recover. The National Weather Service reported experiencing internet and communication issues across the country during this period. One report identified the cause as a network router issue involving equipment from the 1980s used at Chicago Midway Airport. However, the exact cause of the communication failure remains a subject of discussion, as some reports cite general communication issues or technical failures rather than a specific router.

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy stated that technicians are investigating the problem. Sean Duffy also noted that Congress needs to allocate 50 billion US dollars for equipment replacement. President Donald Trump attributed the cause of the incident to outdated systems.

National security and historical context

Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin described the situation as a telecommunications outage and a crisis, but stated it was not another 9/11. This incident represents the second major nationwide ground stop in the United States since September 11, 2001. The previous major nationwide ground stop occurred on January 11, 2023, when the FAA ordered a ground stop for approximately two hours due to a technical failure in the NOTAM system.

The current disruption highlights the reliance of national airspace on aging infrastructure. While the FAA and other agencies work to restore full service, the scale of the disruption underscores the impact of communication failures on national transportation networks.

Glossary

• Air Route Traffic Control Centers — These are air traffic control facilities operated by the Air Traffic Organization (ATO). They function to coordinate flights across United States airspace.
• ATC Zero — This is a status which means no air traffic control services can be provided at certain locations.