All outbound civilian flights across the United States were grounded on Friday evening following a major technical failure that affected air traffic control centers nationwide, according to the Federal Aviation Administration.
The nationwide halt, which began shortly before 10 p.m. Norwegian time on November 13, 2026, left nearly 7,000 flights delayed or canceled, VG reported. Planes already airborne were permitted to land safely at their destinations, while international incoming flights were handled on a case-by-case basis. Flightradar24 said that 3,100 aircraft were in the air heading toward the United States when the order was given.
US Transport Minister Sean Duffy confirmed on X that communication problems impacted all en route air traffic control facilities across the country, Aftenposten reported. Short time before the national order, air traffic in Chicago was halted due to communication issues with air traffic control. The National Weather Service also experienced nationwide internet and communications problems on Friday.
The @FAAnews issued a nationwide ground stop for all U. S. airports following a communication issue impacting all Air Route Traffic Control Centers. FAA technicians are investigating the issue. We will provide immediate updates as we have them.
Authorities Investigate If AI System Caused Breakdown
Federal authorities scrambled to identify the root cause of the breakdown. The FBI investigated whether a software update triggered the stoppage, with particular scrutiny falling on a new artificial intelligence-based air traffic control system, VG reported.
Just three days prior to the incident, the FAA announced the deployment of the SMART AI system across 22 regional control centers to forecast delays. The rollout had faced sharp pushback, with more than 24 congressional lawmakers demanding a halt in October due to safety concerns.
US Security Minister Markwayne Mullin emphasized during a press briefing that authorities did not rule out any possibilities, though officials maintained there was no indication of foul play. President Donald Trump was briefed on the situation.
“We have no indication that there has been a threat against the US,” Mullin said, according to NRK, adding that the government had no evidence pointing toward a malicious cyberattack. Mullin also said that all aircraft currently in American airspace remained under control.
There has been a temporary telecommunications outage – out of an abundance of caution all flights have been halted. Every flight has been accounted for and international flights will be handled on a case by case basis.
Congress allocated funds last year to replace aging copper cabling with fiber optics and update outdated radio systems, though modernization efforts remain incomplete, Aftenposten reported. Transport Minister Sean Duffy said that additional funding is required to complete the modernization.
Historical Precedents of National Ground Stops
| Date | Cause | Scope |
|---|---|---|
| September 11, 2001 | Terrorist attacks | Total national airspace closure |
| January 2023 | Data failure in pilot notification system | Temporary nationwide departure halt |
National ground stops remain exceedingly rare in American civil aviation. Prior to this event, the only comparable nationwide halts occurred during the January 2023 notification system failure and the emergency airspace closure following the September 11 terrorist attacks, smp.no reported.
Passengers Face Chaos as Airports Lack Communication
Travelers faced immediate chaos at major hubs, including Newark Liberty International Airport outside New York. Lars Adrian Giske, a Norwegian traveler caught in the disruption while on a business trip, described the atmosphere on the ground. Loudspeaker announcements at the airport said that staff did not know how long the stoppage would last.
“Just before I was going to board the plane, they stopped the boarding. People are frustrated. And there is no communication from the airport. Several planes are sitting on the tarmac, full of passengers,” Giske told VG.
There are currently 3,100 airborne aircraft bound for US airports amid nationwide ground stop. No additional aircraft are taking off at this time. pic.twitter.com/GGqfb8QXhP
Authorities have not yet announced a definitive timeline for the full resumption of normal departures, with Mullin noting that resolving the technical issues would take time.
“It is going to take a little time, and it will not be resolved within the next hour,” Mullin said.
