The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued a nationwide ground stop shortly before 4 p.m. ET on Friday, November 13, 2026, due to communications problems at regional U.S. air traffic control centers, halting departures and arrivals at Toronto’s major airports. The order suspended all U.S.-bound flights from Toronto Pearson International Airport and Toronto Billy Bishop Airport, affecting hundreds of passengers.
At Toronto Pearson, the ground stop led to the cancellation of over 120 flights to and from the U.S. Additionally, 20 other international flights scheduled at Pearson were cancelled because of the FAA order. Porter Airlines and Air Canada cancelled
all remaining U.S.-bound departures and arrivals at Toronto Billy Bishop Airport for the rest of the evening. Air Canada also cancelled flights between Canada and destinations in the Caribbean and South America that transit U.S. airspace.
Toronto Pearson Airport Details and Recovery Efforts
Erica Vella, spokesperson for Toronto Pearson International Airport, said the airport was working closely with airlines to restore flight schedules. She noted the airport’s emergency operations centre remained active and warned that delays and cancellations were expected to continue during the recovery phase lasting into Saturday. “We are working very, very closely with our airlines, and we will be moving into a bit of
a recovery mode today and tomorrow to make sure that airlines can get their schedules back on schedule and make sure that passengers can get to their destinations,” Vella said.
Airline Responses and Flight Cancellations
Air Canada took the step of cancelling all flights involving U.S. destinations from Pearson for the remainder of Friday night, including those routed through U.S. airspace en route to the Caribbean and South America. Porter Airlines cancelled all remaining U.S.-bound flights on Friday from Toronto Billy Bishop Airport as part of their coordinated response with Air Canada. Flight operations were suspended until the FAA lifted the ground stop at approximately
8:15 p.m. ET.
NAV Canada Traffic Management and Operational Status
NAV Canada, responsible for air navigation in Canadian airspace, implemented traffic management measures at Toronto Pearson and three other major Canadian airports to safely control aircraft volumes. NAV Canada reported that its systems were functioning normally and indicated the FAA ground stop did not directly affect its operational systems. It also anticipated ongoing delays as air traffic volumes normalize following the lifting of the ground stop.
Passenger Impact and Experiences During Ground Stop
Hundreds of passengers faced cancellations, lengthy terminal and aircraft delays, and the need to rebook flights. Donna, traveling to New York City, said her flight was rescheduled for Saturday, expressing disappointment:
“I was really hoping to fly out tonight. So, it’s a bit of an unfortunate situation. Definitely very disappointed that my plans for the weekend have been cancelled, or at least very delayed.” Derek, booked for a flight to Las Vegas, said he was told to remain at the airport but was skeptical of timely departure. “It’s most likely going to be cancelled. And even if you’re rebooked till tomorrow, it’s unlikely. So, I think you’re going to have people with a lot of refunds,” he said.
Another passenger, Shahab Mirmiran, who was returning to Los Angeles, described uncertainty and
the need to wait: “Unfortunately, we don’t know what’s going on. I have to go. I need to do something for work. They’re just saying you have to wait.” A man connecting to Raleigh, N.C., described holding off to see how the situation developed.
Toronto-area couple Lyle Jakobsen and his wife were stranded in Sint Maarten after their Air Canada flight back to Toronto was cancelled. Jakobsen recounted that their flight had boarded but experienced a delay on the tarmac for about 1 hour and 15 minutes before passengers were deboarded. The pilot provided updates during the wait. Jakobsen said,
“Air Canada has been very communicative with us, and we’re happy with that for sure. So, what one more night in Saint Martin is probably not the worst scenario.” The couple hoped to fly back on Saturday morning.
FAA Ground Stop Lift and Flight Resumption
The FAA lifted its ground stop at approximately 8:15 p.m. ET, allowing flights to resume takeoffs from Toronto airports. However, flight operations were expected to recover gradually with delays and additional cancellations likely during the evening as airport traffic volumes normalized. Toronto Pearson’s emergency operations centre remained active to manage ongoing disruptions.
