FAA lifts nationwide ground stop after four-hour outage
- The FAA lifted a nationwide ground stop that lasted four hours on Friday.
- Officials attributed the disruption to an overloaded telecommunications system.
- FlightAware reported over 10,000 delays and 5,000 cancellations by Friday evening.
- Travelers across the U.S. reported significant frustration while stranded at airports.
- Homeland Security confirmed the outage was not a threat or attack.
The Federal Aviation Administration officially lifted a nationwide ground stop on Friday, November 13, 2026, after the aviation system remained halted for approximately four hours. The agency implemented the order earlier that day, which resulted in widespread flight chaos across the United States.
This disruption stranded travelers and halted air travel.
Officials identify overloaded old tech as cause of communication issue
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy stated the ground stop resulted from a "communication issue". The Federal Aviation Administration announced on X that the cause was a "temporary telecommunications outage".
Michigan Public reported that the outage stemmed from "old tech" that "got overloaded". The failure impacted Air Route Traffic Control Centers that manage high-altitude traffic across the country.
Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin confirmed there is no indication the outage was a threat or an attack against the United States. Air Space Intelligence stated its AI-enhanced SMART system and its integration with the agency were not responsible for the ground stop.
Thousands of flights delayed or canceled across the U.S.
FlightAware reported more than 10,000 flight delays and 5,000 flight cancellations across the U.S. as of 8 p.m. EST Friday. These disruptions followed nearly 7,000 flight delays reported on Thursday, November 12, 2026.
Travelers faced long security lines that same day due to a partial government shutdown and TSA staffing shortages.
Travelers share experiences of being stranded at airports
Airports became crowded with stranded families and travelers on November 13, 2026. Travelers in Austin and Lansing, Michigan, reported chaos and disruptions during the grounding. In Buffalo, New York, passengers remained in limbo on November 13, 2026.
Regina Harling waited hours for a flight at Dallas Fort Worth International Airport before learning of the nationwide grounding through news on her phone. Giliann Karon was already on board a plane at Chicago O'Hare International Airport when officials ordered the ground stop.
Travelers in Oregon, San Luis Obispo County, and Seattle-Tacoma International Airport remained stuck for several hours before flights resumed on November 14, 2026. Many other travelers reported being stuck across the country on November 14, 2026. Passengers expressed frustration regarding the flight havoc caused by the ground stop.
Celebrities and public figures caught in aviation chaos
Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood remained stuck in Peoria on November 13, 2026. A 'Baywatch' star was also stranded on a private jet during the shutdown.
Brooks Nader was grounded on a private jet in New York City. Other celebrities described the situation as "eerie".
College football teams scramble for alternative travel plans
College football teams scrambled to secure alternative travel plans following the end of the ground stop. CBS Sports reported these efforts on November 14, 2026.
Passengers limited to filing complaints for ground stop disruptions
Passengers have no rule providing cash compensation for being stuck on the tarmac. Travelers are permitted to file complaints regarding these disruptions.
LiveNOW from FOX provided information on November 13, 2026, regarding the rights of passengers held on the tarmac during an FAA ground stop.
Historical context of the second national ground stop since 2001
The previous instance occurred in 2023 due to an outage in the NOTAM system.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Old tech blamed for the ground stop that caused flight chaos: 'It got overloaded' (michiganpublic.org)
Add NewsPulse Time as a preferred source on Google