Donald Trump rules out cyberattack or artificial intelligence in US flight groundings

President Donald Trump stated that the recent nationwide flight groundings do not appear to be caused by a cyberattack or artificial intelligence. The Federal Aviation Administration suspended all United States flight departures on November 13, 2026, due to extraordinary safety circumstances and a large-scale communications failure. The grounding restrictions went into effect at 15:53 EST.

Scope of the aviation disruption

The aviation disruption began at Chicago O'Hare International Airport following a sequential frequency disruption before the issue expanded to a nationwide scale. The Federal Aviation Administration confirmed that the communication failure affected all air traffic control centers across the United States. Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy confirmed that the communication problem affected every air traffic control center in the country.

The scale of the incident impacted a significant number of travelers and aircraft. While estimates vary, FlightAware reported that 10,000 flights were affected. Another report estimated that approximately 7,000 flights were delayed or canceled. During the incident, approximately 3,100 aircraft were in the air. The disruption affected an estimated 1.5 million passengers. The Federal Aviation Administration is currently handling incoming international flights on a case-by-case basis to manage the flow of traffic.

Investigations into the cause

The Federal Bureau of Investigation has opened an investigation into the incident to determine the exact cause of the communications failure. Despite the investigation, United States officials have not indicated that the event was an act of intentional harm. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin stated that law enforcement has no information indicating deliberate sabotage. President Donald Trump told Fox News that the flight disruption does not seem to be caused by a cyberattack or artificial intelligence systems.

The stoppage at Chicago O'Hare International Airport lasted for four hours before the first flight departed from the airport. This incident marks the third time a nationwide grounding of this scale has occurred in the United States since the September 11 attacks.

Impact on air traffic control

The communications failure disrupted the ability of air traffic control centers to manage standard flight operations. The Federal Aviation Administration implemented the grounding to address extraordinary safety circumstances arising from the technical failure. The sequential frequency disruption that started in Chicago eventually compromised the communication systems used by all air traffic control centers nationwide.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation and other law enforcement agencies continue to examine the technical failures that led to the suspension of departures. The Department of Homeland Security and the Department of Transportation remain involved as officials work to restore normal flight operations and ensure the safety of the national airspace system.

Glossary

• Federal Aviation Administration — The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is an agency that manages air traffic control centers and handles incoming international flights. It also issues guidelines for the usage of unmanned aircraft systems and regulates aircraft registration.
• Federal Bureau of Investigation — The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is a law enforcement agency. It conducts investigations into incidents to determine causes of failures.
• Department of Homeland Security — The Department of Homeland Security is a government department involved in ensuring the safety of the national airspace system. It works alongside other officials to restore normal flight operations.
• national airspace system — The national airspace system is the environment in which aircraft operate. Officials work to ensure its safety during flight disruptions.