FAA nationwide ground stop after air traffic control communications disruption; cyberattack unconfirmed
Severity: high · Patch status: unknown · Since 2026-11-13
On Friday 2026-11-13 the FAA issued a nationwide ground stop for all U.S. airports, citing 'extraordinary circumstances' for safety, after a communications issue affected all Air Route Traffic Control Centers nationwide. Departing flights were ordered to remain on the ground until further notice, with inbound international flights handled case by case; a partial halt had already been imposed in Chicago before the nationwide order. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said FAA technicians were investigating. The root cause remains unidentified, and federal officials have not said whether a cyberattack is suspected or under investigation. All U.S. air travelers and airlines were affected while the stop was in effect.
What to do
- Monitor FAA and DOT notices and NOTAMs for restoration status before scheduling or operating flights
- Prepare contingency plans for extended delays, diversions, and ground holds at U.S. airports
- Treat the event as potentially cyber-related until ruled out; review resilience of ATC communications dependencies
- Verify traveler and cargo itineraries and rebooking options
Sources
All live incidents on Threat Watch
