Key facts
- The FAA ordered a nationwide ground stop of all departing flights on November 13, 2026.
- FlightAware said nearly 7,000 flights were delayed or canceled because of the ground stop.
- The FAA said it would handle international flights on a case-by-case basis.
- The FAA and White House asked lawmakers for another $30.1 billion for the air traffic control system.
- Congress approved $12.5 billion for the air traffic control overhaul last year.
The Federal Aviation Administration grounded all departing flights nationwide on November 13, 2026, after a communications failure hit air traffic control centers across the country. Planes in the air may land, but those on the ground cannot take off, the agency said.
Flight tracking service FlightAware said nearly 7,000 flights were delayed or canceled because of the nationwide ground stop. The FAA said it would manage international flights on a case-by-case basis.
"The FAA 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," Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said.
Shortly before the announcement, the FAA halted traffic in Chicago due to air traffic control communications issues. The agency said, "All departing traffic should remain groundstopped until further notice."
The disruption is the latest sign of strain on the U.S. air traffic control system, which has been beset by equipment failures, communications problems and shortages of controllers while the FAA tries to replace aging infrastructure. Congress approved $12.5 billion for the overhaul last year, and the FAA and White House asked lawmakers on November 13, 2026, for another $30.1 billion.
The halt was the second nationwide ground stop of all departures since the September 11, 2001, attacks. The other happened in January 2023, when the FAA paused all domestic departures for less than two hours.