The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued a nationwide ground stop for all U.S. airports on November 13, 2026, because of an air traffic control communications failure. This is only the second nationwide ground stop since the September 11 attacks, the last occurring in 2023 due to an FAA NOTAM system failure.
Flight Disruptions Exceed 11,000 with Major Hubs Affected
By 6:20 p.m. Eastern Time on November 13, more than 2,000 flights were canceled and over 10,000 flights delayed across the United States. Major airports impacted included Chicago O’Hare and Midway, Newark Liberty, Boston, Seattle, New York, and Los Angeles. Canadian airports such as Toronto Pearson International and Montréal-Trudeau
International also experienced delays and suspended flights to and from the U.S. during the ground stop.
Communication Outage Impacts All Air Route Traffic Control Centers
The FAA identified the cause as a communication problem affecting all 22 Air Route Traffic Control Centers in the U.S., which oversee flights above 18,000 feet. At the time the ground stop was announced at 3:54 p.m. ET, approximately 3,100 aircraft bound for U.S. airports were airborne. Flights already in progress were allowed to continue and divert as needed. FAA technicians are currently investigating the root cause of the telecommunications outage.
Officials Rule Out Attack; Emphasize Safety
Department of Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin assured the public there was no
indication of a “nefarious attack” linked to the outage, describing it as “just a telecommunications outage as of now.” Mullin emphasized, “This isn’t another 9/11. I cannot repeat that enough.” Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy confirmed the ground stop’s cause was a communication issue affecting all Air Route Traffic Control Centers and stated that FAA technicians are investigating the problem. AirSpace Intel categorically denied any connection of the ground stop to their SMART AI system rollout.
American Airlines Cancels Flights; NAV Canada Supports Safety
American Airlines canceled numerous flights at its major hubs including Chicago and other key locations due to the FAA ground stop. NAV Canada, while experiencing
no technical impact on its air navigation systems, supported air traffic safety during the crisis, coordinating diverted flights within Canadian airspace. Flights already airborne were managed under existing flight plans with pilots following established protocols to maintain safety throughout the disruption.
Congressional Leaders Demand Investigation Amid Aging Infrastructure Concerns
Senator Tammy Duckworth, Veterans Affairs Ranking Member and Aviation Subcommittee Ranking Member, stated the incident “will warrant a thorough and complete investigation” and pledged to seek answers from the FAA. Senator Maria Cantwell, Senate Transportation Committee Ranking Member, indicated her office is reviewing FAA communication technology issues related to the disruption. The FAA’s air traffic control system faces ongoing
stress from aging infrastructure, equipment failures, and controller shortages, with modernization efforts underway including the phase-out of floppy disks by 2028. The White House and Department of Transportation continue to urge Congress to approve $30.1 billion in funding to upgrade U.S. airports and air traffic control systems.
