The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) imposed a nationwide ground stop on 14 November 2026 due to a temporary telecommunications outage affecting air traffic control systems in the United States. This resulted in delays and groundings of US-bound flights departing Australia from Sydney Airport, Melbourne Airport, and Brisbane Airport.
Flight Delays and Passenger Impact
At Melbourne Airport, flights to Los Angeles scheduled after 10am were delayed by almost three hours. A flight to Dallas originally set to depart at 10am left around 1pm after the FAA lifted the ground stop. Two additional Melbourne flights scheduled for noon and 12:45pm were also delayed but had departed
by 3pm. Passengers on US-bound flights departing from Sydney reported being held on the tarmac for up to three hours. Some planes required extra fuel due to prolonged use of air conditioning while waiting. Brisbane Airport saw four US-bound flights delayed, with two having departed by 3pm.
Official Statements and Lift of Ground Stop
A Sydney Airport spokesperson confirmed awareness of the FAA’s nationwide ground stop and said the airport was monitoring the situation closely. The FAA lifted the ban on US flight arrivals shortly before 1pm Australian Eastern Daylight Time. Sydney Airport did not specify the impact on existing delays after the ban was lifted. Melbourne
and Brisbane Airport authorities advised passengers traveling to the US or North America to contact airlines for updated flight details. Qantas expressed gratitude to passengers for their patience and recommended checking its website for flight status updates.
Traveler Disruption and Advisories
Passengers traveling from Australia to the US on 14 November 2026 encountered significant delays, including tarmac holds lasting several hours. These delays followed the FAA’s temporary grounding of US flight operations triggered by the telecommunications outage. Brisbane and Sydney airport spokespeople emphasized the importance of passengers verifying flight information with their airlines amid ongoing schedule adjustments. The interconnected nature of US and Australian
aviation operations caused ripple effects that disrupted outbound US-bound flights from major Australian airports throughout the day.
