Ground stop live updates: FAA orders flights to remain grounded nationwide

The Federal Aviation Administration has issued a nationwide ground stop for flights across the United States on Friday, Nov. 13, citing extraordinary circumstances and safety concerns related to an air-traffic control issue.

The directive instructs all departing aircraft to remain on the ground until further notice. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said the ground stop followed a communication issue affecting all Air Route Traffic Control Centers.

"FAA technicians are investigating the issue," Duffy said in a post on X. He said the agency would provide updates as they become available.

Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin told reporters outside the White House that a “telecommunication outage throughout FAA” prompted the nationwide ground stoppage.

“There is no prior indication as of yet that this was nefarious attack against us,” he said. “It’s just a telecommunication outage as of right now.”

Flight tracking company Flightradar24 reportedthat the FAA issued the order following an equipment outage. The FAA's advisory also cited frequency issues across the National Airspace System.

Flights already in the air are not being ordered to land immediately. International flights heading to the United States will be handled on a case-by-case basis, according to the advisory.

All flights accounted for

Just after 5 p.m. ET, the FAA posted on X that all flights had been halted out of an abundance of caution amid a temporary telecommunications outage.

“Every flight has been accounted for and international flights will be handled on a case by case basis,” the FAA added.

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— Eve Chen

No sign of ‘nefarious attack’ against US, Trump administration says

Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin told reporters that a “telecommunication outage throughout FAA” prompted the nationwide ground stoppage.

Mullin, speaking outside the White House, said all flights are accounted for, and there will be a “priority list” to account for planes as they start coming into airports.

“There is no prior indication as of yet that this was nefarious attack against us,” he said. “It’s just a telecommunication outage as of right now.”

— Joey Garrison 

What is an FAA ground stop?

A ground stop is a traffic management initiative (TMI) issued by the FAA that requires all aircraft meeting specific criteria to remain on the ground, taking precedence over other TMIs. For travelers whose flights fit that criteria, this means departures are paused until the ground stop is lifted, even if scheduled during that time.

According to the FAA, criteria could be airport specific, airspace specific or equipment specific.

The FAA will issue ground stops when air traffic control cannot safely accommodate aircraft in a particular airspace or airport, such as severe weather, security threats, or airport capacity restraints like equipment outages.

They’re typically in reaction to an event and come with little warning following the consideration of other, less restrictive TMIs.

— Kathleen Wong

What happened after the previous nationwide ground stop?

Following the January 2023 nationwide ground stop, lawmakers pressed the FAA about preventing another outage. Then-acting administrator Billy Nolen explained that contractors accidentally deleted a file, and the error spread to the backup database through synchronization, disabling both systems. 

The FAA subsequently introduced a one-hour delay between database updates to prevent a repeat. Nolen also outlined modernization plans, including retiring an older NOTAM interface by 2025, and a broader safety review.

"We built a brand-new NOTAM service from the ground up in record time," FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford said on Sept. 29, 2025. “It is resilient, user-friendly, and scalable, and will significantly improve airspace safety and efficiency."

Nolen emphasized in 2023 that aviation remained safe but acknowledged improvements were needed, declining to guarantee that the system distributing critical safety notices would never experience another technical problem.

— Josh Rivera

Newark airport sees concerned passengers, airport employees

At Newark Liberty International Airport, no airport-wide announcement had yet been made over the loudspeaker, almost an hour after the ground stop was first announced.

"A passenger just told me it was a nationwide ground stop, and I was like, 'What?'" one airport employee said to a fellow airport worker as they walked through the airport.

Passengers gathered around gates, huddled together to figure out what to do about their checked luggage, with many on the phone trying to make plans. One flight at least, Flight 124 with service to Athens, Greece, however, made an announcement at 4:53 p.m. ET that all groups were able to board, though it's unclear whether that flight is able to take off.

— Anika Reed

Is this the first nationwide round stop since 9/11?

No. On Jan. 11, 2023, the FAA halted departures nationwide after its Notice to Air Missions (NOTAM) system failed.

The system provides flight crews with essential safety information, including runway closures and other hazards. The FAA’s preliminary review found that contractors accidentally deleted files while trying to synchronize the primary database with a backup.

The agency paused departures while technicians restored service and verified the system was working properly. The ground stop lasted nearly two hours, but flight disruptions continued throughout the day. The FAA said investigators found no evidence of a cyberattack or other malicious intent.

— Josh Rivera

Burbank airport in California warns: 'Things can get backed up'

Mike Christensen, public information officer with the Hollywood Burbank Airport, said in a phone interview that the airport received notice of the nationwide ground stop just before 1 p.m. Friday, Nov. 13.

Christensen said he knows little else about the order, aside from that "it's due to some kind of equipment outage."

For now, Christensen said, the airport is advising passengers to connect with their airlines.

“Right now, there's going to be delays, but then even this afternoon ... things can get backed up. So basically, we're just advising passengers to connect with their airlines in the interim, just to see if they can get updates about when their flight potentially, hopefully, will take off,” he said.

— Daniella Segura, The Desert Sun

Nearly 7,000 flights delayed or canceled amid FAA ground stop

Nearly 7,000 flights across the United States have been delayed or canceled because of the nationwide ground stop, according to Reuters.

The figure includes both delayed and canceled flights, as airlines adjust schedules in response to the FAA's directive. The disruption has affected air travel nationwide, though a breakdown of cancellations versus delays was not immediately available.

The FAA has not released a separate count of how many flights or passengers have been affected by the ground stop.

— Anthony Thompson

How long will the FAA ground stop last?

The FAA advisory lists an effective period beginning at 3:54 p.m. ET on Nov. 13 and extending to 11:30 p.m. ET.

However, the directive instructs departing aircraft to remain grounded until further notice. The listed expiration time does not guarantee that flights will resume by then.

The FAA has not provided an estimate for when normal flight operations will return.

What does a nationwide ground stop mean for travelers?

A ground stop is an FAA directive that temporarily prevents affected aircraft from departing their airports. It does not necessarily mean all flights have been canceled.

The disruption could lead to delays, missed connections and schedule changes as airlines adjust their operations.

Passengers scheduled to fly Friday should check their airline's website or mobile app for the latest updates before heading to the airport. Travelers should also monitor notifications from their airlines for changes to departure times or cancellations.

The FAA advisory does not specify how many flights or passengers could be affected by the nationwide ground stop.

Airports warn passengers of delays as ground stop continues

Airports are warning passengers to prepare for delays as the FAA's nationwide ground stop disrupts flight operations.

Mike Christensen, public information officer with Hollywood Burbank Airport, told The Desert Sun that the airport received notice of the ground stop shortly before 1 p.m. local time Friday, Nov. 13.

Christensen said the airport had limited information about the order but understood it was related to an equipment outage.

"Right now, there's going to be delays, but then even this afternoon ... things can get backed up," Christensen told The Desert Sun.

The airport is advising passengers to contact their airlines for updates about potential departure times and other changes to their travel plans.