The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) ordered a nationwide ground stop on Friday afternoon, November 13, 2026, grounding all flights across United States airspace due to communications failures at 22 regional air traffic control centers. This action immediately disrupted cross-border air traffic, forcing Canadian airports including Toronto Pearson International Airport and Montreal-Trudeau Airport to suspend all flights to and from the United States.
Toronto Pearson and Montreal-Trudeau Suspend Flights; Air Canada Halts US Travel for Evening
Following the FAA directive, Toronto Pearson and Montreal-Trudeau canceled hundreds of U.S.-bound flights. Air Canada announced it was canceling all flights to and from the United States for the remainder of the evening on November 13. The Calgary
International Airport rebooked affected passengers for a 9 a.m. departure on Saturday. While Canadian domestic and international flights not requiring U.S. airspace continued, U.S.-heading flights were effectively grounded. Toronto Pearson increased staffing and deployed support teams, particularly in the U.S. departures area, implementing a parking plan for grounded aircraft and coordinating closely with airlines.
Passengers Face Cancellations, Delays, and Uncertainty Amid Ground Stop
Passengers experienced widespread cancellations and delays with limited information. Some were forced to deplane after boarding and advised to arrange overnight accommodation without guaranteed airline support. Kelly Adenike at Toronto Pearson questioned whether she would be able to depart that night or be sent home. Another
passenger, Samantha Chowen, was told to deplane her flight from Nashville to Toronto and seek overnight hotel arrangements after boarding was canceled. Brenda Zhou and her daughter, scheduled to fly to Miami, encountered abrupt closure of U.S. customs at Toronto Pearson and were rebooked to Tampa for Saturday night, causing missed commitments. Passengers reported difficulty receiving timely reroute notifications.
Officials Confirm Cause and Support Measures, Rule Out Cyberattack
U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy attributed the ground stop to a telecommunications failure affecting 22 regional FAA air traffic control centers. U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin clarified the failure was not related to cyberattacks or safety threats. Transport Minister Steven
MacKinnon confirmed that Canada offered full assistance to the FAA, including accommodating U.S.-bound aircraft during the disruption. Nav Canada reported no direct impact on its systems and emphasized continued safe and efficient operations in Canadian airspace. Airlines WestJet and Air Canada stated they were closely monitoring the situation and following regulatory guidance.
Rare Nationwide Ground Stops Reflect Legacy of Air Traffic Disruptions
This event marks the first nationwide U.S. ground stop since a January 2023 FAA computer malfunction caused system-wide grounding. Prior to that, the last comprehensive shutdown happened after the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. Although some international flights from East and West Coast hubs continued to operate, flights
crossing U.S. airspace were suspended for several hours until the FAA lifted the ground stop at approximately 8:30 p.m. EST on November 13, 2026.
