The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) imposed a nationwide ground stop on November 13, 2026, grounded for approximately five hours and lifted at around 7:30 p.m. Central time. This action caused widespread disruption at Chicago O’Hare and Midway International Airports, with more than 800 flights canceled and nearly 900 delayed in the Chicago area alone as of 9:30 p.m. on the same day.
Passenger Experience at Chicago Airports
Passengers at O’Hare and Midway experienced crowded gates, terminal congestion, and confusion over flight statuses during the ground stop. Numerous travelers were stranded amid extended waits. Some altered plans, booking hotels or considering returning home. Shawntell Sharrock, a
passenger at O’Hare, described the lack of consistent official information, saying, “There’s not a solidified, same answer from anyone.”
Airline Response and Operations
United Airlines faced significant cancellations but resumed some operations Friday night, advising customers to verify flight status on united.com or their app. American Airlines concentrated on prioritizing flights to non-hub cities and international routes to expedite schedule recovery. Both carriers issued travel waivers permitting passengers to modify plans during the weekend, with American anticipating residual delays and cancellations on November 14.
Official Statements and Investigation
Secretary of Homeland Security Markwayne Mullin confirmed no indications of a cyberattack, attributing the failure to a telecommunications outage. “Everybody’s
safe,” Mullin said, emphasizing the mechanical nature of the problem. Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy stated recovery will require days, given disruptions to planes and crews’ positioning. FAA officials indicated the ground stop was imposed “due to extraordinary circumstances and for reasons of safety.” Illinois Senator Tammy Duckworth called for a comprehensive investigation into the cause.
Cause and Background of the Disruption
The FAA traced the issue to problems in communications at regional air traffic control centers stemming from aging infrastructure, including outdated wires and radio systems. The agency is concurrently deploying a modernization program supported by $12.5 billion allocated last year and requesting an additional
$30 billion to replace antiquated systems. Preliminary evaluations found no evidence linking the failure to the FAA’s new AI recommendations system operating near Washington, D.C.
Aviation safety expert and former United Airlines pilot Steve Arroyo explained the necessity of grounding flights when communications systems falter due to degraded infrastructure, saying, “If you don’t have that ability, whether it’s because the old wires that they have are just run down or for whatever reason, you’ve got to stop airplanes on the ground.”
Flight Stats and Recovery Timeline
Earlier during the ground stop, the FAA reported over 1,000 flight delays at Chicago airports. As of 9:30 p.m.
Central time on November 13, nearly 900 flights remained delayed, and more than 800 were canceled across O’Hare and Midway, with most cancellations occurring at O’Hare. The ground stop was the first nationwide since January 2023 and the second since September 11, 2001.
At the onset of the incident, approximately 3,500 airplanes were airborne nationwide. Secretary Mullin confirmed that more than 3,000 aircraft landed safely during the ground stop. The FAA cautioned that full recovery will span several days due to the displacement of aircraft and crew.
Broader Impact on Travel
The disruption affected flights broadly across the United States, including cargo shipments and
sports team travel, as airlines adjusted operations prioritizing recovery. Officials expressed confidence the system will stabilize before the Thanksgiving travel period. United and American Airlines’ travel waivers cover adjustments linked to flight disruptions expected through the weekend.
Passengers at Chicago’s airports voiced frustration over missed connections and altered plans. Passenger Pankti Patel lamented, “I don’t know when I’ll be able to make these kinds of plans again,” reflecting the cancellations’ personal toll.
