The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued a nationwide ground stop at all U.S. airports on November 14, 2026, due to a telecommunications outage disrupting air traffic control communications. As of 6:20 p.m. local time, the stoppage resulted in the cancellation of more than 2,000 flights and delays affecting over 10,000 flights nationwide.
FAA officials described the ground stop as being implemented “due to extraordinary circumstances and for reasons of safety.” Secretary of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security Markwayne Mullin stated there is no evidence of any nefarious attack and reaffirmed that public safety remains intact. Mullin told reporters, “This
isn’t another 9/11. I cannot repeat that enough,” emphasizing the nature of the outage as a telecommunications failure. He also noted that while a cyberattack has not been confirmed, investigations are ongoing without ruling out any possibilities.
The nationwide ground stop affected all 22 Air Route Traffic Control Centers (ARTCC) responsible for managing flights operating above 18,000 feet across the United States. Approximately 3,100 aircraft already airborne en route to U.S. airports continued their flights with possible diversions as needed. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy attributed the stoppage to “a communication issue impacting all Air Route Traffic Control Centers” and confirmed
that FAA technicians are actively investigating the issue.
Canada’s air navigation service provider, NAV Canada, reported no disruption to Canadian airspace systems but is monitoring the incident and coordinating with U.S. authorities to ensure the safe movement of any diverted aircraft. Aviation experts noted that pilots operating in this environment are trained to respond predictably during such emergencies. ABC News aviation contributor John Nance said, “All pilots in that environment know what to do,” and described the incident as a matter of manageability within air traffic control procedures.
Political leaders called for thorough inquiries into the cause of the ground
stop. Senator Tammy Duckworth, the Aviation Subcommittee Ranking Member, stated the event “will warrant a thorough and complete investigation,” and pledged to seek accountability from the FAA. Senator Maria Cantwell, Senate Commerce Committee Ranking Member, announced plans to review technology concerns related to aircraft communication frequencies and backup systems. Separately, AirSpace Intel, the contractor responsible for the SMART AI system rollout with FAA and ATC integration, issued a statement denying any connection of the current ground stop to their technology, clarifying, “The current ground stop is not based on or a result of the SMART system, any product of ASI
or our integration with FAA and ATC.” Mullin indicated that this aspect is also part of the ongoing investigation.
This ground stop marks only the second nationwide halt of departures since the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. The last nationwide stoppage occurred in 2023 when the FAA’s Notice to Air Missions (NOTAM) system failed, preventing pilots from accessing critical pre-flight information. The November 14, 2026 event underscores continuing vulnerabilities related to air traffic control communications and the critical role of ARTCC operations in maintaining air travel safety.
