The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) ordered a nationwide ground stop Friday afternoon, November 13, temporarily halting flight departures across the United States amid widespread air traffic control communications problems.
The rare directive was issued shortly after 4 p.m. Eastern, with the agency citing “extraordinary circumstances” and safety concerns.
According to Reuters, the order affected departing aircraft nationwide, while flights already airborne were allowed to continue toward their destinations.
The extraordinary measure raised immediate concerns about widespread flight disruptions as federal aviation officials investigated the problem.
What Caused the Nationwide Ground Stop?
The ground stop followed reports of communications failures affecting regional air traffic control centers responsible for managing aircraft traveling between airports.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy confirmed that a communications issue was affecting air traffic control facilities across the country, according to The Associated Press.
FAA technicians were investigating the disruption.
The Washington Examiner reported that a rolling radio-frequency outage was affecting facilities responsible for monitoring aircraft.
However, the precise technical cause of the communications failures had not been confirmed.
A Rare Disruption to American Aviation
Nationwide ground stops are exceptionally unusual.
In January 2023, the FAA temporarily halted domestic flight departures following a malfunction in the Notice to Air Missions (NOTAM) system, which provides critical safety information to pilots.
Before that incident, a nationwide grounding occurred following the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.
Friday’s ground stop represents another significant disruption to the nation’s aviation infrastructure.
ABC News reported that the latest order was connected to widespread communications problems.
What Does This Mean for Travelers?
The order prevents affected flights from departing airports while federal officials work to address the communications disruption.
Aircraft already in flight are generally being permitted to continue to their destinations, while international arrivals are being evaluated individually.
Passengers traveling Friday could experience significant delays, missed connections or cancellations, even after normal operations resume.
Travelers should check directly with their airlines for updates before leaving for the airport.
Real-time airport restrictions and delays are available through the FAA’s National Airspace System Status website.
When Will Flights Resume?
As of the initial reports Friday afternoon, federal officials had not announced when the nationwide restriction would be lifted.
The FAA continues investigating the communications disruption.
This is a developing story. Brandon News will update this report as additional information becomes available.
