The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued a nationwide ground stop on November 13, 2026, at 3:36 p.m. EST due to a communication equipment failure during a telecom network upgrade. The ground stop paused all departing flights across the United States, lasting over four hours before being lifted around 8:20 p.m. EST the same day. FlightAware data recorded 9,159 canceled flights and 7,190 delayed flights on November 13 alone, with air travelers stranded nationwide at major airports.
Communications Failure Linked to Outdated Hardware Upgrade
A contractor from L3Harris, while replacing copper wiring with fiber optic cables at a remote FAA site, switched routers which triggered a flood of
network traffic, overloading FAA systems. The instability persisted for 45 minutes and impacted 17 FAA facilities. The issue involved Cisco 600 series routers manufactured between 2001 and 2006. FAA officials said it remains unclear whether human error or faulty equipment caused the failure, and the agency is investigating. The FAA had been upgrading its system infrastructure, with approximately 70% of copper wires already converted to fiber.
Nationwide Airspace and Major Airports Impacted
The ground stop affected US national airspace and air traffic control centers, grounding flights at key airports including Chicago O’Hare and Midway, New York-area airports JFK, Newark, and LaGuardia, coastal hubs such as Washington
Dulles and San Francisco, and Canadian airports Toronto Pearson and Montreal. Approximately 3,500 flights were airborne when the stop was issued, all of which landed safely before operations restarted.
Officials Stress Safety and Recovery Plans
FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford stated the ground stop was a precautionary measure made out of caution and confirmed it is now safe to fly. He said about 12,000 scheduled flights were not completed due to the disruption, with around 3,000 of those private flights. Bedford anticipates full recovery of flight operations by Sunday evening, despite expected cancellations of 4,000 to 5,000 flights continuing into November 14 as airlines restore schedules.
U.S.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy highlighted the age of the air traffic control system as a root cause, calling it “an incredibly old air traffic control system.” He thanked aviation workers and the FAA for their handling of the crisis. Duffy emphasized the need for more funding and is requesting $30 billion to modernize the system, building on a prior $12.5 billion Congressional allocation.
Airlines Respond with Flexible Policies Amid Ongoing Delays
Delta Air Lines, American Airlines, and Southwest Airlines implemented flexible rebooking and cancellation policies for affected passengers. Delta advised travelers to expect delays and operational changes as its network recovers from the four-hour halt. American Airlines warned
that delays and cancellations would persist on November 14, citing ongoing recovery efforts. Southwest issued waivers allowing customers to cancel or reschedule flights without penalties as it works to restore normal service.
FAA Modernization Efforts Continue Amid Funding Challenges
The FAA has secured $12.5 billion from Congress for air traffic control modernization but states that this funding is insufficient to rebuild the aging infrastructure. The administration is seeking an additional $30 billion to fully upgrade the system over the next two years. The communication failure during the recent equipment upgrade adds urgency to these modernization efforts.
Travel Disruptions Expected Through Weekend
FlightAware reported more than 5,000 flight cancellations and about 5,300 delays
on November 14, as airline operations gradually resumed. Delays and cancellations will likely continue throughout the weekend while crews and aircraft are repositioned. FAA officials expect that operational normalcy will return by the end of Sunday, November 15, following the backlog created by the ground stop.
