The Federal Aviation Administration issued a ground stop at Chicago O’Hare International Airport on September 17, 2026. The stoppage lasted close to two hours, halting all departures during this period.
As a result, Chicago O’Hare recorded the highest number of flight cancellations globally on the same day. Multiple flights scheduled to depart from or arrive at the airport were disrupted due to the FAA’s service suspension.
Travelers at O’Hare faced significant delays and cancellations because of the nearly two-hour halt. The FAA did not provide specific reasons for the ground stop beyond confirming the temporary flight suspension.











