FAA Issues Nationwide Ground-Stop Order, Delaying or Canceling Nearly 7,000 US Flights

All flights scheduled to depart in the United States on Friday were halted amid a communication problem at air traffic control centers.

By SafarSamachar Desk14 Nov 2026, 3:18 am IST

Illustration

Illustration: SafarSamachar Pix Desk, created with AI assistance. Not a photograph of the event.

Key facts at a glance

1An estimated 7,000 flights were delayed or cancelled, according to aviation tracker FlightAware.
2Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said the stoppage was caused by a communication issue affecting all Air Route Traffic Control Centers.
3FAA technicians are investigating the problem.

On Friday, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced a nationwide ground-stop order that halted all scheduled departures in the United States. According to FlightAware, roughly 7,000 flights were delayed or cancelled because of the stoppage.

In a post on X, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy attributed the disruption to a communication issue that impacted every Air Route Traffic Control Center, and he confirmed that FAA technicians are working to identify the root cause.

What this means for travellers

If you have a flight booked to depart from a U.S. airport this weekend, contact your airline immediately for the latest information. Operations will resume once the FAA resolves the technical glitch.

Sources

This brief was written with AI assistance from the reports listed above, following our accuracy rules; it has not yet been individually reviewed by an editor. Read our editorial policy.Rules and schedules change - confirm with the airline or embassy before you travel. Spotted an error? Tell us.