FAA Halts U.S. Departures After Control Center Comm Glitch
Nationwide ground stop follows communication failures at all Air Route Traffic Control Centers, forcing travelers to verify status with carriers.
By Simon Bennett ·
The Federal Aviation Administration issued an emergency order on Friday, November 13, requiring all departing aircraft in the United States to remain on the ground. The directive halted operations across the country as technicians investigated widespread communication problems. Inbound international flights are being handled on a case-by-case basis by officials.
U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy confirmed that the technical issues affected every Air Route Traffic Control Center. These facilities coordinate aircraft moving through controlled airspace between airports. The nationwide shutdown followed earlier, localized ground stops at Chicago’s O’Hare and Midway airports, where officials reported specific equipment malfunctions. Federal officials have not yet identified the root cause of the broader failure.
Complete nationwide suspensions of departing flights are rare occurrences. The last similar event occurred in January 2023, when a failure in the Notice to Air Missions system temporarily stopped departures and caused delays. Before that, the only other major instance was the grounding of civilian air traffic following the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.
The incident has raised questions about the reliability of the nation's aging air traffic control technology. FAA technicians began their investigation immediately after the disruption was detected. Airlines and passengers are currently awaiting further information regarding the timeline for restoration.
Travelers with Friday flights are advised to check their status directly with their airlines before arriving at the airport. A ground stop prevents departures but does not automatically cancel every affected flight. Airlines may need time to reposition aircraft and adjust schedules once restrictions are lifted, potentially causing additional delays.
Passengers can monitor official updates on the FAA’s National Airspace System Status website. Federal officials have not announced a confirmed resolution time in initial reports. The situation remains active as the agency works to resolve the communication issues.
