The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued a nationwide ground stop across all U.S. airports on the afternoon of November 13, 2026, due to a telecommunications outage affecting all U.S. air route traffic control centers. The ground stop was implemented as a precautionary measure and was lifted shortly after 7 p.m. Mountain Standard Time (MST) that same day.
Calgary International Airport Cancels US-Bound Flights
At Calgary International Airport (YYC), Canada, the FAA ground stop forced the cancellation of numerous flights bound for U.S. domestic destinations. Passengers waiting on U.S.-bound flights encountered abrupt cancellations after being seated aboard aircraft prepared for departure. Many were then required to disembark
and spent hours stranded either in terminal areas or on hold with their airlines, unsure of when they could resume travel.
Passenger Rebooking and Compensation Issues
Naji Zuain, a passenger from Lloydminster booked on an Air Canada flight to Denver, Colorado, was among those affected. His flight was canceled after about an hour on board, and he was rebooked for 9 a.m. on Saturday, November 14, 2026. Zuain arranged overnight accommodation at his own expense after being informed by an Air Canada representative that the airline would not cover costs related to the extended disruption. He acknowledged the difficulty for the airline to cover expenses
resulting from issues beyond its control.
Airport and Official Communications
Following the lifting of the FAA ground stop, Calgary International Airport advised passengers to check directly with airlines for updated flight information. Transport Secretary Sean Duffy confirmed the ground stop on social media, attributing it to a telecommunications problem impacting U.S. air route traffic control centers. FAA technicians were actively investigating the root cause of the outage as of November 13.
The FAA ground stop’s effect extended beyond Calgary, with Canadian airports including Vancouver (YVR) and Toronto Pearson (YYZ) reporting delays and cancellations for U.S.-bound flights. The disruptions at Canadian airports were linked to
their reliance on U.S. airspace for domestic routes, which were disrupted during the telecommunications outage.
