Key facts
- The FAA said the nationwide pause responded to a temporary telecommunications outage and later lifted the grounding order.
- A Sydney Airport spokesperson said some US-bound flights due to depart were grounded.
- Two US-bound flights from Melbourne, due at 12.00pm and 12.45pm, were told to expect delays.
- The affected Melbourne flights include a Qantas service to Dallas and a United Airlines service to San Francisco.
- A Melbourne passenger flight to Los Angeles due shortly after 10am was delayed by more than two hours.
The US Federal Aviation Administration halted departures and delayed landings at all US airports on November 14, 2026, citing a temporary telecommunications outage. The agency later lifted the grounding order and said it was continuing to investigate the cause of the outage.
A Sydney Airport spokesperson said some US-bound flights due to depart the airport were grounded. The spokesperson said the airport was aware of the nationwide ground stop and was monitoring the situation, and advised passengers traveling to or via the United States to check with their airline for the latest information.
Flights from Melbourne Airport were also affected. Passengers on two US-bound flights due to depart at 12.00pm and 12.45pm were told to expect delays because of the situation in the US. Those flights include a Qantas service to Dallas and a United Airlines service to San Francisco.
A Melbourne to Los Angeles flight expected to depart shortly after 10am had been delayed by more than two hours.