FAA Ground Stop Disrupts US Flights; Limited Departures Resume | 14 November

Updated: 14 November 2026, 12:14 a.m. AEDT (UTC+11:00; 13 November, 1:14 p.m. EST, UTC−05:00).

The FAA’s nationwide ground stop disrupted departures across the United States on Friday, 13 November, after communications problems affected regional air traffic control centres. In the latest detailed reporting available at the time of this check, the stop remained in effect, with some exceptions for flights in Alaska and Hawaii and selected international departures. The FAA’s order was reported as running at least until 11 p.m. EST on Friday (14 November, 4:00 a.m. AEDT). That is an announced end time, not confirmation that the restriction will lift then. The Associated Press reported the latest known operational details.

For Australian travellers, a flight still showing as scheduled may be affected by a delayed US departure, a missed connection, or aircraft and crew being out of position. Check the operating airline’s app or flight-status page before leaving for the airport, and keep monitoring it even after a departure clearance is announced: a gradual restart can leave a backlog.

Destaques

• The FAA grounded departures nationwide because of communications issues at regional air traffic control centres.
• Some flights, including certain Alaska and Hawaii services and selected international departures, were exceptions.
• Officials had not confirmed the cause or a reliable time for a full return to normal operations.
• Travellers connecting through the US should verify each flight segment directly with their airline.

What happened with the FAA ground stop?

The FAA ordered a nationwide ground stop on Friday afternoon in the United States after communications problems affected air traffic control centres that direct aircraft between airports. The agency said flights were halted out of caution, and officials said aircraft already in the air were accounted for and were being handled safely. A ground stop prevents affected aircraft from departing; it does not mean that every aircraft already airborne is ordered to land immediately.

The incident affected operations beyond domestic routes. The AP reported that Europe’s air traffic agency suspended US-bound departures at the FAA’s request for a period, while Mexico’s aviation agency said scheduled flights bound for the US were grounded. Some international flights departing US airspace were cleared case by case. These exceptions do not guarantee that a particular route is operating; passengers need confirmation from their airline.

Why were US flights grounded?

Officials attributed the halt to a telecommunications outage affecting regional air traffic control centres. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said FAA technicians were investigating. At the time of the latest reports reviewed for this update, authorities had not publicly established the root cause. Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin said there was no indication of an attack, while cautioning against assumptions as the investigation continued. The reported outage was also not confirmed to be connected to a separate Microsoft service disruption or the FAA’s newer traffic-management technology.

This distinction matters: the communication problem was the reported trigger, but its underlying cause remained unresolved. The FAA’s live National Airspace System status page is the official place to check for current advisories, although its live details were not readable in the version reviewed for this update. The agency’s National Airspace System status page and daily air traffic report provide operational context; the FAA advises passengers to check with their carrier for flight-specific information.

What should Australian travellers do next?

If you are in Australia and due to fly to, from, or through the US, check every flight in your itinerary, including onward connections. A disruption to one US leg can affect a connection even when the next flight is still listed as operating. Use the airline that operates each segment for the latest status, since a booking agent’s itinerary may not update as quickly.

• Check the airline’s app and flight-status page before travelling to the airport and again before boarding.
• Keep booking references, receipts and airline messages, and save screenshots of schedule changes.
• If a flight is cancelled or substantially changed, contact the airline about rebooking or a refund. Ask what it will cover if an overnight stay is needed, and keep receipts.
• Do not assume that a reported resumption means your specific flight has a new departure time; wait for airline confirmation.

Once the FAA lifts a broad restriction, recovery can take longer than the stoppage itself. Aircraft may be at the wrong airports, crews may have reached duty limits, and flights may compete for limited departure slots. Further delays and cancellations are therefore possible, but the scale and duration cannot be reliably forecast from the information currently confirmed. Cargo services can also be affected because air freight uses the same constrained airport operations; the AP reported that FedEx was monitoring the situation.

Frequently asked questions

Are all US flights still grounded?

The latest detailed report available at this update said the nationwide stop remained in effect, with exceptions. Check the FAA status page and your airline for newer information before making travel decisions.

Can international flights leave the United States?

Some international departures were cleared case by case, but routes and permissions may differ. Confirm your specific flight with its operating airline.

What should I do if my connection is affected?

Contact the airline operating the disrupted segment and ask about rebooking. Check the status of every remaining leg, and keep receipts for any necessary extra costs.