U.S. suspends all nationwide flight departures following major communications failure

The United States suspended all flight departures nationwide on Friday, November 13, 2026, after a communications failure affected air traffic control centers. U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Marcowain Molin announced the suspension of all departures across the country. The Federal Aviation Administration issued the nationwide halt at 3:54 PM EST (20:54 GMT). This disruption follows a localized air traffic halt in Chicago caused by communication issues shortly before the nationwide announcement was made.

Impact and Investigation

The communications failure caused significant disruption to air travel, with approximately 7,000 flights delayed or canceled, according to FlightAware. U.S. authorities are currently treating the incident as a communications malfunction rather than a confirmed security threat. However, the Department of Homeland Security is investigating all possibilities, including the potential for a cyberattack. Marcowain Molin stated, "There is no evidence of a national security threat or malicious attack; it is currently classified as a communications failure, though all possibilities remain under investigation."

Regarding the technical nature of the outage, American media reported that air traffic control system notifications disappeared from an FAA website. Furthermore, American media reported that preliminary reports from law enforcement officials suggest the outage was not caused by a cyberattack. Despite the widespread disruption, authorities said they have successfully accounted for all flights and are managing aircraft currently in the air on a case-by-case basis.

Context of Air Traffic Challenges

This event marks the second time a nationwide flight suspension has occurred since the September 11, 2001, attacks. The U.S. air traffic control system has faced recent challenges, including equipment and communication failures as well as air traffic controller shortages. These systemic issues follow a tragic mid-air collision near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport in January 2025, an incident that resulted in 67 deaths.

The recent disruption occurs as the White House and the Department of Transportation have requested $30.1 billion in additional funding for the purpose of airport and air traffic control modernization. The ongoing investigation by the Department of Homeland Security aims to determine the exact cause of the communications failure to prevent future nationwide disruptions to the aviation network.

Glossary

• Federal Aviation Administration — The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is an agency that issues licenses for airline maintenance and engineering departments. It also maintains a website for air traffic control system notifications.
• Department of Homeland Security — The United States Department of Homeland Security is a government department that investigates potential security threats. It has plans to increase the collection of biometric data at US borders.
• Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport — Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) is an airport located in Crystal City, Virginia. It is one of the three major airports serving the Washington–Baltimore metropolitan area.