FAA orders nationwide ground stop for all departing flights in the United States

The Federal Aviation Administration issued a nationwide ground stop for all departing flights from all United States airports on Friday, November 13, 2026. This order was triggered by exceptional circumstances and safety concerns involving serious air traffic control communication issues. The Federal Aviation Administration mandated that all departing aircraft must remain grounded until further notice.

Communication failures cause suspension

The nationwide ground stop followed a specific flight suspension in Chicago caused by communication issues, according to Jo24.net. While departing flights were halted, international incoming flights were handled on a case-by-case basis. The Federal Aviation Administration resumed departing flights after the suspension lasted for more than four hours.

U.S. Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy said the decision was caused by a communication problem. The Secretary of Transportation also noted that returning flights to their regular schedules will take time due to disruptions caused by the suspension. This event represents the second time the United States has implemented a total ground stop for all departing flights since the September 11, 2001, attacks.

Impact on flight statistics

The disruption caused massive delays and cancellations across the national aviation network. Data from FlightAware reported over 10,000 delayed flights and nearly 5,000 cancellations as of 7:20 PM Eastern Time on Friday, November 13, 2026. Earlier data from FlightAware showed 7,800 delayed flights and 350 cancelled flights at 4:45 PM. A later update from the same source reported 9,900 delayed flights and 900 cancelled flights.

FlightRadar24 reported that approximately 3,100 aircraft were in the air heading to United States airports during the suspension. The scale of the disruption is significant given that the Federal Aviation Administration handles an average of 44,360 daily flights. The suspension affected a system that serves approximately 3,000,000 daily passengers arriving at or departing from United States airports.

Operational recovery and safety

The Federal Aviation Administration managed the suspension by prioritizing safety through the grounding of all departing aircraft. The agency's decision to halt all departures was driven by the need to address the air traffic control communication failures. Although the ground stop has been lifted, the recovery of regular flight schedules is expected to be a gradual process. The Secretary of Transportation indicated that the return to normal operations will require time due to the widespread disruptions caused by the suspension.

Glossary

• Federal Aviation Administration — The Federal Aviation Administration is an agency that handles an average of 44,360 daily flights. It manages aviation safety by issuing orders such as ground stops.
• ground stop — A ground stop is an order that mandates all departing aircraft must remain grounded until further notice. It is used to address safety concerns or communication issues.
• Secretary of Transportation — The Secretary of Transportation is an official who provides oversight regarding aviation disruptions and the return to normal flight operations.