infrastructure38 minutes ago
FAA Halts All US Departures Amid Nationwide Communication Failure
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) ordered a rare nationwide ground stop on Friday, November 13, 2026, halting all departing flights due to a communication issue affecting air traffic control. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy confirmed the disruption impacts all 22 Air Route Traffic Control Centers. This is only the second such nationwide halt since the September 11, 2001, attacks, with the previous instance occurring in January 2023 due to a system failure. The FAA stated the measure was taken for 'reasons of safety' and 'extraordinary circumstances,' while technicians investigate the cause. Inbound international flights are being managed case-by-case, and the stop remains in effect until further notice.