FAA issues nationwide ground stop due to 'extraordinary circumstances'

Loading Video…

This browser does not support the Video element.

A nationwide ground stop has been issued by the Air Traffic Control System Command Center on Friday, according to the Federal Aviation Administration. 

FILE - A United Airlines passenger plane departs Chicago O'Hare International Airport in Chicago, Illinois on November 7, 2025. (Photo by KAMIL KRZACZYNSKI / AFP) (Photo by KAMIL KRZACZYNSKI/AFP via Getty Images)

Nationwide ground stop issued

What we know:

The most recent advisory posted to the FAA website read: 

"DCC has implemented extended flight plan drop times to 240 minutes for all enroute centers due to nationwide comms failure." 

FILE - Advisory issued on the FAA website on Nov. 13, 2026. (Federal Aviation Administration advisory website)

An advisory that was posted earlier on Friday stated:

"Due to extraordinary circumstances and for reasons of safety. Attention all aircraft operators, by order of the Federal Aviation Command Center all airports are ground stopped. All departing traffic should remain ground stopped until further notice. Inbound international flights will be managed on a case by case basis." 

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy stated that the nationwide ground stop was issued due to a communication issue impacting all air route traffic control centers. 

What they're saying:

What we don't know:

There was no timeline given for how long until the issue was resolved. 

The Source: Information for this article was taken from an FAA adivisory issued on Nov. 13, 2026. This story was reported from San Jose. 


 

Travel NewsTransportation