Ground stop ordered by FAA at all airports in America due to a 'communication issue'
The FAA issued an advisory on Friday afternoon, citing "extraordinary unforeseen circumstances" for safety.
Nationwide ground stop halts departures as FAA cites safety concerns
The FAA has ordered a nationwide ground stop at all airports, citing
The Federal Aviation Administration has ordered a ground stop at all airports in the U.S.
The FAA issued an advisory on Friday afternoon, citing "extraordinary unforeseen circumstances" for safety.
U.S. Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy issued a statement shortly after the announcement, saying "a communication issue impacting all Air Route Traffic Control Centers" was the reason for the ground stop.
AIRPORT GROUND STOPS VS. GROUND DELAYS: WHAT ARE THEY AND HOW DO THEY HAPPEN?
The @FAAnews 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.
— Secretary Sean Duffy (@SecDuffy) November 13, 2026
A ground stop completely halts arriving traffic at their departure airport for the entire duration of the ground stop.
No flights will be allowed to take off or land during this nationwide alert.
Inbound international flights will be managed on a case-by-case basis, according to the FAA.
Airports began issuing statements as thousands of flights were canceled or delayed. More than 7,800 flights were delayed or canceled as of 4:45 p.m. ET.
The FAA has issued a ground stop affecting departures at ATL and other major airports. Departures are temporarily suspended. Travelers should check with their airlines for flight updates. We will provide an update as more information becomes available.
— Atlanta Airport (@ATLairport) November 13, 2026
The last time a nationwide ground stop was ordered was on Jan. 11, 2023 due to an issue with the Norice to Air Mission Systems, and lasted about an hour and a half.
Flights in the air may have to land wherever they are as this ground stop is in effect. At the time of the order, roughly 3,000 fights were in the air.
No further information has been disclosed.
This is a breaking news story. FOX Weather will continue to bring you the latest information as it becomes available.