FAA orders nationwide ground stop at every U.S. airport after control-center communication problems

Developing: this story reflects what was public as of about 4:45 p.m. ET Friday, Nov. 13. We had not seen an FAA statement that the stop was lifted.

The Federal Aviation Administration issued a nationwide ground stop on Friday afternoon, halting departures at every U.S. airport. According to CNBC, the agency said communication problems were affecting multiple Air Route Traffic Control Centers, the facilities that guide planes between airports at cruising altitude. Fox Business quoted the FAA alert as saying "all airports are ground stopped" and that departing traffic would stay on the ground until further notice.

What the FAA has said

• The stop was ordered for "extraordinary circumstances and for reasons of safety," per CNBC.
• The cause given is communication problems affecting "multiple" en route control centers. The centers have not been named in the reports we read.
• "FAA technicians are investigating the issue," the agency said, as quoted by CNBC.
• Inbound international flights are being handled case by case, according to both outlets.
• No cause beyond the communications problem has been stated. Nothing we read attributes it to an attack, and we are not suggesting one.

How rare this is

CNBC notes nationwide ground stops are extremely rare. The last was in January 2023, when the FAA's pilot-alert (NOTAM) system failed. Before that, flights were halted nationwide after the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks. That 2023 stop was lifted after roughly 90 minutes, but delays and cancellations rolled through the system for the rest of that day. That is a reference point, not a forecast for tonight.

What it means for travelers

A Friday-afternoon stop lands in a heavy travel window. Planes that cannot depart end up out of position, so crews and aircraft are in the wrong cities even after the stop ends. That is why delays outlast the stop itself.

• If you are flying tonight: check your airline's app before leaving for the airport. Airlines generally rebook automatically when flights cancel, and under the Department of Transportation's rules a passenger whose flight is canceled can request a refund if they decline the alternative.
• If you are connecting: a missed connection caused by a ground stop is usually rebooked by the airline for free, but seats on Saturday flights can fill quickly.
• If you ship by air: expect overnight packages to slip a day.

What to watch

The things that decide how bad this gets: how long the stop lasts, which control centers were affected, and whether the FAA reports a cause. Airline stocks could react when the market opens Monday, since the stop came after the close. We will update this story when the FAA or airlines provide new information. Our travel desk and markets page carry the follow-ups.

Sources: CNBC; Fox Business; the FAA statement as quoted by both; Reuters and Axios also reported the stop. Details may change as the situation develops. This is market information, not investment advice.