FAA Halts U.S. Flights Nationwide After Communications Outage

WHO:

Fast Company - U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said the ground stop followed a communications issue affecting air traffic control centers and that FAA technicians were investigating.

CNN - Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin said there was “no reason to believe” the outage was a threat to the United States and described it as “a telecommunication outage.”

CNN - Two law enforcement officials said preliminary reports indicated the outage was not a cyberattack; another law enforcement source said FBI personnel nationwide were monitoring the situation.

CNN - An air traffic controller warned pilots approaching Chicago that “Approach is ATC Zero” and Chicago Center was close to that status.

Fast Company - Flavor Flav posted from Atlanta airport that the ground stop would last “multiple hours,” and referred to Chuck D at JFK.

WHAT:

CNN - The FAA ordered all U.S. flights to remain grounded until further notice, citing “extraordinary circumstances and for reasons of safety.” The order applied to departing flights; aircraft already airborne could remain in the air.

NBC News - The FAA ordered a nationwide ground stop on all departing flights for safety reasons.

TechCrunch - The FAA said communications issues affected multiple Air Route Traffic Control Centers, which manage U.S. airspace.

CNN - Some national airspace facilities went “ATC Zero,” meaning they could provide no air traffic control services. A controller reported lost radio frequencies and automation for handoffs and flight strips.

Fast Company - FlightAware listed more than 9,000 delayed flights and 440 canceled flights within, into, or out of the United States.

CNN - At Newark Liberty International Airport, a pair of Toronto workers said their flight had been canceled and they were seeking a New York City hotel.

Inc - The ground stop lasted four hours and disrupted thousands of flights.

WHERE:

CNN - The ground stop covered aircraft across the United States; the communications issue affected Air Route Traffic Control Centers nationwide.

CNN - The report described conditions at Newark Liberty International Airport and cited controller communications concerning Chicago.

Fast Company - Flavor Flav reported from Atlanta airport; Chuck D was referenced at JFK.

WHY:

CNN - The FAA cited extraordinary circumstances and safety; the cause was not immediately clear.

Fast Company - The FAA command center cited impacts to air traffic control frequencies and/or radar capabilities and said it lacked information about the outage’s timing or cause.

HOW:

CNN - The FAA advisory said traffic should remain grounded until further notice; international flights would be handled case by case.

Fast Company - The FAA’s ground stop followed a communications issue affecting air traffic control centers, and technicians were investigating.

CNN - Flights may continue in airspace without control under visual flight rules, but most would be rerouted, prevented from taking off, or grounded.

(UPDATED November 13, 2026 22:59 UTC)

The FAA grounded departing flights nationwide after communications failures disrupted air traffic control centers. Officials said there was no reason to suspect a threat, and technicians investigated. The four-hour stoppage disrupted thousands of flights, with more than 9,000 delayed.