Air travel across the United States faced an extraordinary disruption Friday after the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) ordered all departing flights at U.S. airports to remain grounded because of serious problems with the air traffic control communications system.
The decision was announced on November 13, 2026. The FAA cited “extraordinary circumstances and safety reasons,” instructing aircraft waiting for departure to remain on the ground until further notice. International arrivals were being handled on a case-by-case basis, according to reports by the Associated Press.
U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy confirmed that the communications problem had affected all regional air traffic control centers across the country. Technical teams immediately began investigating the failure, but its cause had not yet been officially determined.
Chicago was among the cities affected, with O’Hare International Airport and Midway International Airport both experiencing disruptions. Local media reported that departure restrictions were initially imposed because of equipment problems before the suspension was expanded nationwide, CBS News reported.
Passengers across the country reported major disruptions. At Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, aircraft remained stationary as travelers waited for information about when flights might resume.
The impact also extended to international travel. Sky News reported that an evening flight from London Heathrow to New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport had been canceled.
A nationwide suspension of this kind is extremely rare. Similar measures were taken following the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. In January 2023, a failure in the FAA’s pilot-notification system also caused widespread flight disruptions across the country, the Associated Press reported.
The crisis comes as U.S. authorities seek an additional $30.1 billion to modernize the country’s aging air traffic communications systems.
Travelers are being advised to check their flight status directly with their airlines before heading to the airport.
At the time of the initial reports, officials had not confirmed when air traffic would return to normal.
