The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has ordered a nationwide ground stop for all US flights, citing “extraordinary circumstances.”
The order followed a radio-frequency outage affecting several major air traffic control facilities, forcing airports across the country to suspend departures.
At 3:54 p.m. ET, the Air Traffic Control System Command Center (ATCSCC) said the immediate halt had been imposed “due to extraordinary circumstances for safety reasons.”
Flight-tracking service FlightAware reported that nearly 7,000 flights had been delayed or canceled as a result of the nationwide ground stop.
Although early reports indicated the outage was not linked to a cyberattack, FBI personnel nationwide were monitoring the incident, a law enforcement source told CNN.
Department of Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin likewise said there was no evidence of foul play.
“There was no indication as of yet that this was a nefarious attack against us,” Mullin said, while stressing that officials had not eliminated any possible cause.
“I want to make sure we say this again. There’s no reason for the public to be afraid or scared for your loved ones. This isn’t another 9/11. I just can’t repeat that enough,” Mullin said.
A plane remains on the tarmac during the nationwide ground stop at Miami International Airport on November 13, 2026
Flyers wait at New York’s JFK International Airport during the nationwide ground stop on November 13, 2026
The FAA directed all departing aircraft in the United States to remain on the ground until further notice. A notice issued by federal officials said the ground stop was expected to remain in place until at least 11 p.m.
International flights bound for the US will be handled individually while the disruption continues. Officials have not said whether any aircraft will need to divert to destinations outside the country.
In a subsequent update, the FAA gave airlines as many as four hours to submit flight plans because of the communications failure affecting air traffic control centers.
US Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy confirmed the ground stop in a 4:16 p.m. post on X, saying it followed “a communication issue impacting all Air Route Traffic Control Centers.”
“FAA technicians are investigating the issue. We will provide immediate updates as we have them,” Duffy added.
The previous nationwide ground stop affecting departing US flights was issued on January 11, 2023, after a breakdown in the FAA’s Notice to Air Missions (NOTAM) system.
US flights were also grounded and the nation’s airspace shut down after the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001.
While federal officials have not attributed the latest disruption to a cyberattack, Anna Giaritelli of the Washington Examiner said FAA employees she spoke with feared the outage could be connected to cyberwarfare against the United States.
International flights bound for the US will be handled individually until the disruption is resolved
The ground stop is currently scheduled to remain in place until 11 p.m.
Giaritelli wrote on X: “FAA employee tells me: ‘Being that it is affecting a lot of the country I’d say it’s a major issue with AI type implications.’”
Texas Congressman Jake Ellzey rejected speculation that US airports had come under attack, saying lawmakers had been told the disruption was caused by an “equipment failure.”
In a video posted on X, Ellzey said: “We’ve been informed that this is the result of an equipment failure. Please be mindful of rumors and speculation as the situation develops.”
Air traffic control centers across the country were clearing their airspace in preparation for “ATC Zero,” a rare emergency designation used when a facility can no longer safely maintain separation between aircraft arriving at and departing from airports.
The designation may be declared when a control facility is unable to provide safe service because of serious problems, including extreme weather, equipment breakdowns, fires or critical staffing shortages.
A nationwide ATC Zero declaration is exceptionally rare and has occurred only a handful of times in modern aviation history.
This is a developing story. More details will follow.
The FAA has ordered all departing US traffic to remain on the ground until further notice