FAA Orders Nationwide Ground Stop After Telecommunications Failure

Overview

• The FAA directed every U.S. departure to remain on the ground on Friday, November 13, 2026, after a telecommunications failure affected all en‑route air traffic control centers and agency technicians began an active investigation.
• Flight tracking services reported roughly 7,000 flights delayed or canceled as the suspension spread and some incoming international flights were held or evaluated case by case.
• Homeland Security and FAA officials said there is no evidence so far of a cyberattack, and leaders cautioned that restoring normal departures would take time while investigators examine radios, radar links and software updates.
• Foreign authorities and operators followed U.S. instructions to hold traffic to U.S. airports, with Eurocontrol and airports such as São Paulo–Guarulhos notifying carriers to keep flights on the ground until cleared.
• The disruption has sharpened pressure to update aging systems: the FAA and White House asked Congress for an additional $30.1 billion for modernization on November 13, 2026, building on $12.5 billion approved in 2025 and highlighting operational and economic ripple effects for airlines and passengers.