The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) implemented a nationwide ground stop across the United States lasting approximately four hours from November 13 to 14, 2026, due to communication failures at regional air traffic control centres. This ground stop, which was the longest US airspace shutdown since September 11, 2001, resulted in around 10,000 flight cancellations to and from the US, significantly affecting international airports including London Heathrow and Gatwick. Eurocontrol suspended all US-bound flights departing its 42 member states, including the UK, between 2200 UTC on November 13 and 0500 UTC on November 14 at the FAA’s request.
Flight Cancellations and Delays at Heathrow and Gatwick
London Heathrow Airport
recorded 31 cancellations and about 20 delayed departures for flights to and from the US as of 9:45am on November 14, 2026. British Airways canceled a New York-bound flight scheduled to leave Heathrow at 10:30pm on November 13, while Virgin Atlantic canceled a flight from Heathrow to New York JFK on the same day. At Gatwick Airport, three flights arriving from Orlando, Florida, planned for 7:30am on November 14, were canceled. These disruptions directly impacted UK-US routes amid ongoing recovery efforts.
Official Responses from Airlines, UK Authority, and US Officials
British Airways urged passengers to travel to airports as planned to facilitate rapid departures once operations resumed, describing the
delays as “entirely outside of our control”. Virgin Atlantic advised customers to check flight status online, acknowledging the FAA ground stop. The UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) warned of ongoing disruption to UK-US flights and encouraged passengers to verify flight details with airlines. Eurocontrol stated that its Network Manager Operations Centre (NMOC) was closely monitoring the situation and providing updates. U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy confirmed the airspace reopening shortly after 1:30am GMT on November 14 but cautioned about continued disruptions over the following days. Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin attributed the shutdown to a telecommunications outage and ruled out
cyberattacks or rogue AI involvement, stating: “There is no reason for the public to be afraid or scared for your loved ones. This isn’t another 9/11… This is a telecommunications outage.”
Technical Causes and Historical Context of the Ground Stop
The FAA ground stop was triggered by system overload resulting from integration of new technology into the existing, aging US air traffic control system that caused communication failures at regional centres. Officials indicated this was the longest US airspace shutdown since the 9/11 attacks in 2001. The incident was not linked to malicious activity; rather it stemmed from technical problems. A similar nationwide halt occurred in January 2023 due
to a system error. Sean Duffy noted that while the system was rebooted quickly, such outages could reoccur in the future.
Passenger Impact and Travel Advice
Passenger operations at Heathrow and Gatwick airports experienced cancellations and delays, especially on flights bound for the US. The UK Civil Aviation Authority advised passengers on UK-US flights to confirm their flight status with airlines before travelling to airports. British Airways stated that despite ongoing delays, they were working to minimize disruption and recommended passengers arrive at airports as scheduled. Virgin Atlantic also urged travellers to verify flight statuses via their website. The disruption and subsequent re-booking challenges were
expected to continue for several days following the ground stop.
Monitoring and Coordination Efforts
The Network Manager Operations Centre (NMOC) under Eurocontrol played a key role in tracking the situation, providing updates, and coordinating with airspace management for its 42 member states, which include the UK, Ireland, Germany, France, Israel, and Morocco. Eurocontrol’s suspension of all US-bound flights during the FAA ground stop period reflected the extensive international implications of the US air traffic control failure.
