The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) imposed and then lifted a nationwide ground stop on all U.S. flights on Friday, November 13, 2026, following instability in radar and telecommunications systems that began at 3:36 p.m. ET. The ground stop lasted several hours and was lifted shortly before 7 p.m. ET, disrupting thousands of flights between the U.S. and Canada and blocking international flights using U.S. airspace. It was only the third such nationwide all-flight grounding in U.S. history, following the 9/11 attacks and January 2023.
Impact on Canadian Airports
Key Canadian airports affected included Toronto Pearson, Montreal-Trudeau, Vancouver International Airport (YVR), Edmonton, Calgary, and
Ottawa. Air Canada, Porter Airlines, and WestJet canceled all flights bound for the United States for the remainder of Friday. Some airborne flights, such as those from Ottawa to Boston and Fort Lauderdale, returned to their Canadian origins. Vancouver International Airport initially stated domestic Canadian flights were unaffected but later warned of delays and cancellations due to network ripple effects. NAV CANADA assured air traffic safety and efficiency in Canadian airspace while warning that delays may persist during recovery.
Cause and Official Response
The ground stop was caused by a telecommunications outage affecting FAA radar and communications, linked to the air traffic system’s aging
decades-old analog equipment. U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy called for emergency congressional funding to rebuild the system, saying, “I want Congress to give us emergency funding.” The FAA technicians continue investigating the failure. Last year, Congress approved $12.5 billion for air traffic control modernization, with an additional $30.1 billion requested amid ongoing infrastructure challenges.
Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin confirmed there was no sign of a cyberattack, stating, “There is no indication, as of yet, that this was a nefarious attack against us. It’s just a telecommunication outage as of right now.” He emphasized, “The public was never at danger
through this process. There was never any lives at risk.” Mullin also clarified there was no link to the recent Microsoft Outlook outage. FEMA activated centers to assist stranded travelers, ensuring access to medication where needed.
Airline and Airport Actions
Following the ground stop, Air Canada, Porter Airlines, and WestJet canceled all U.S.-bound flights. Airlines urged passengers to check flight statuses before traveling. Vancouver International Airport (YVR) confirmed awareness of the U.S. technology issue causing the ground stop, noting the ongoing disruption to flights. The ground stop significantly affected routes running through U.S. airspace, including flights connecting cities such as Chicago, Boston, Seattle, San
Francisco, Dallas, Phoenix, Los Angeles, Minneapolis, Fort Myers, and Fort Lauderdale.
Ongoing Disruptions Expected
Despite the FAA lifting the ground stop shortly before 7 p.m. ET on November 13, officials anticipate that delays and cancellations will persist into the weekend. Both the FAA and NAV CANADA warned that normalized flight schedules will take time, with potential delays in Canadian airspace expected as operations return to normal. U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy highlighted the urgent need to address the outdated infrastructure exposed by this outage.
