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The United States Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) on Friday ordered a nationwide suspension of all departing flights following a major communications failure affecting air traffic control centres across the country.
The unprecedented move was taken on safety grounds after technical problems disrupted communications at all 22 regional Air Route Traffic Control Centres responsible for managing aircraft movements between airports.
The FAA issued the ground-stop order on November 13, directing all airports across the country to hold departing aircraft until further notice.
US Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy confirmed the disruption, saying FAA technicians were investigating the problem and working to restore normal operations.
Flights Held at Airports
The order prevented aircraft on the ground from taking off, while planes already in the air were allowed to continue to their destinations and land safely.
Incoming international flights were to be handled on a case-by-case basis, depending on operational and safety conditions.
The suspension affected major aviation hubs across the country, including airports in Chicago, Atlanta, Houston and New York.
According to reports, at least 827 flights had been diverted by early Friday evening, while around 11,000 departures carrying more than 1.5 million passengers had been scheduled after 4pm.
Airlines Warn Passengers of Disruptions
The nationwide ground stop caused widespread disruption to airline operations, leaving thousands of passengers facing delays, diversions and possible cancellations.
Airlines advised passengers to check their flight status and contact carriers for updated travel information.
The disruption also raised concerns over its potential impact on cargo transportation and other aviation-related services.
Cyberattack Ruled Out as Likely Cause
Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin described the incident as a telecommunications outage, saying there was no indication at that stage that it had been caused by a malicious cyberattack.
Authorities were investigating the cause of the failure and its possible connection to the country’s ageing air traffic control infrastructure.
The nationwide ground stop was particularly significant as such a measure is rarely imposed across the United States.
The previous nationwide suspension of departures occurred in January 2023, when a technical failure affected the FAA’s pilot notification system.
The incident has renewed concerns about the reliability of the country’s air traffic control infrastructure and the need for further investment in modernisation.
