The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued a nationwide ground stop on November 14, 2026, grounding all flights in the United States for several hours in the afternoon. The interruption, caused by telecommunications failures at 22 regional U.S. air traffic control centers, forced Canadian airports including Toronto Pearson, Montreal-Trudeau, Calgary International, and Ottawa International to suspend and cancel flights bound to and from the United States.
Toronto and Montreal Airports Suspend US-Bound Flights
Toronto Pearson International Airport maintained domestic and international flights not requiring U.S. airspace but canceled all U.S.-bound flights. The airport increased terminal staffing and deployed support teams, focusing additional resources in the U.S. departures
area. A parking plan for aircraft was implemented to manage the stranded planes. Montreal-Trudeau Airport also suspended flights heading to the U.S., following FAA directives.
Passenger Stranding and Rebooking at Calgary International Airport
Passengers at Calgary International Airport faced extended delays, with some stuck aboard planes for over an hour before being asked to deplane. Air Canada canceled all U.S.-bound flights for November 14 and rebooked some Calgary passengers for flights the following morning. Passengers reported uncertainty over return flights and incurred additional expenses for overnight accommodations. One Calgary passenger noted, “They said they will be emailing us shortly with a rerouted flight but that right now they
can’t guarantee when that will be.”
Official Responses and Industry Monitoring
Nav Canada, which operates Canada’s civil air navigation system, confirmed that its systems ran normally without direct impact from the FAA ground stop. Transport Minister Steven MacKinnon stated that Canada offered full assistance to the FAA and remains prepared to support further as the situation develops. Air Canada acknowledged the cancellations affected flights to and from the U.S., the Caribbean, and South America, while WestJet said it was closely monitoring the situation and complying with regulatory orders. The Ottawa International Airport Authority warned of expected diversions affecting U.S. arrivals and departures.
Background on FAA Ground Stops and Impact on Travelers
The November 14
FAA ground stop, lifted around 8:30 p.m. Eastern, was attributed to a telecommunications outage, not a cyberattack, U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin confirmed. This was the first nationwide U.S. flight grounding since January 2023, when an FAA computer malfunction caused the last such suspension. Historically, the previous nationwide shutdown occurred after the September 11, 2001 attacks.
Passengers experienced considerable disruptions, with many flights canceled or delayed indefinitely. Air Canada advised some that they must arrange overnight stays at their own expense. Others missed scheduled events, such as a college soccer identification camp in Miami after Toronto flights were canceled.
Travelers were instructed to confirm flight status with airlines as rerouting options remained uncertain.
