The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) imposed a nationwide ground stop lasting approximately five hours on Friday, Nov 13, 2026, grounding all flights departing from the United States. This action triggered significant global disruptions, including widespread cancellations and delays at Canadian airports.
Flight Cancellations at Canadian Airports Exceed 300
Air Canada announced the cancellation of roughly 250 flights on Nov 13, affecting about 27,000 passengers. Toronto Pearson International Airport alone canceled 143 U.S.-bound flights on Friday and an additional 63 on Saturday, Nov 14. Other Canadian airports including Montreal-Trudeau, Ottawa, Vancouver, and Calgary experienced dozens of cancellations on Nov 14 resulting from the ongoing ripple effects.
Calgary International Airport Faces Delays and Stranded Passengers
Calgary
International Airport (YYC) held U.S.-bound flights for several hours on Nov 13 due to the FAA ground stop linked to a telecommunications issue. Some flights were delayed by about an hour before passengers were instructed to disembark. On Nov 14, ongoing cancellations of flights from Calgary to U.S. destinations left travelers stranded with uncertain travel timelines. Passenger Naji Zuain, aboard a Calgary-to-Denver flight delayed and canceled on Nov 13, reported having to pay for overnight accommodation without airline reimbursement, highlighting passenger hardships amid the disruption.
FAA Attributes Disruption to Router Installation Error
U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy and FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford reported that the prolonged ground
stop was caused by a router installation error by FAA contractor L3Harris at a remote location. The newly installed router began flooding other routers in the U.S. air traffic control network, disrupting communications and scrambling radar feeds. The FAA ground stop was lifted shortly after 7 p.m. MST (8:30 p.m. EST) on Nov 13, with the agency projecting a return to normal U.S. air travel schedules by the end of Sunday, Nov 15.
Airlines Respond with Flight Changes and Additional Services
In response to the disruption, Air Canada, WestJet, and Porter offered passengers free flight changes and added extra flights to assist travelers stranded by cancellations. Air Canada
spokesperson Yasmine Mehdi described the situation as a “significant disruption” with effects continuing into the weekend due to aircraft and crew being out of position across networks. Passengers at affected airports faced long waits, crowded terminals, and uncertainty over connecting flights while airlines worked to restore normal service.
This ground stop represents the longest nationwide U.S. flight suspension since the September 11, 2001 attacks. Despite Canadian air traffic control systems operating normally, the disruption of U.S. departures caused major cascading cancellations and delays across Canada and internationally.
John Jacques, a Toronto resident returning from Brisbane, Australia, recounted a 16-hour delay
on a Dallas-bound flight forced to wait on the tarmac before takeoff clearance was revoked. He described the total journey extending beyond 24 hours due to subsequent delays. Maggie Sepulveda, stranded at Toronto Pearson, reported multiple flight changes, unexpected accommodation expenses exceeding $250, and ongoing travel uncertainty.
