The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) ordered a national ground stop at all U.S. airports on Friday, November 13, 2026, citing a telecommunications outage affecting air traffic control communications.
The disruption impacted all 22 Air Route Traffic Control Centers (ARTCCs) across the country, which manage flights above 18,000 feet. At the time of the ground stop, approximately 3,100 aircraft were airborne and bound for U.S. airports. Canadian air navigation authority NAV Canada monitored the situation and reported no impact on Canadian airspace while continuing to support safe traffic movement in its jurisdiction.
Federal Officials Confirm No Nefarious Activity, Investigation Underway
Department of Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin said the
government is investigating the cause and that there is currently no evidence of a malicious attack. “It’s just a telecommunications outage as of now,” Mullin said, adding, “This isn’t another 9/11. I cannot repeat that enough.” Mullin also noted that cyberattack possibilities were being considered but not confirmed.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy stated via social media that the stoppage was “due a communication issue impacting all Air Route Traffic Control Centers.” Duffy confirmed FAA technicians are actively working to resolve the outage.
Pilots Managing Flights According to Established Safety Protocols
ABC News contributor John Nance explained that pilots currently airborne follow established procedures during such events. “All pilots
in that environment know what to do,” Nance said. He added that air traffic control is prepared to manage aircraft seeking new landing paths amid the outage.
Second Nationwide Ground Stop Since 9/11
This is only the second nationwide ground stop ordered by the FAA since the September 11, 2001 attacks. The previous event occurred in 2023 when the FAA’s Notice to Air Missions (NOTAM) system failed, preventing pilots from accessing pre-departure information, forcing a halt to departing flights nationwide.
Travel Impact: All Departing Flights Halted, Airborne Flights Diverted
The ground stop halted all departing flights across U.S. airports with no timeline established for resumption. Flights already in the air continue their flight plans but
may be diverted to alternate airports if necessary. Earlier on November 13, the FAA also imposed a localized ground stop at Chicago’s O’Hare and Midway airports due to a separate equipment outage.
NAV Canada confirmed continued support for safe traffic in Canadian airspace, including accommodating any diverted flights arriving from the U.S.
Details on Cause and Duration Not Yet Available
The exact cause of the telecommunications outage remains under investigation. Officials declined to provide projections on when flights would resume normal operations. No clear indication has been given regarding whether the outage is due to technical failure or other causes.
