FAA Halts US Departures Citing Safety Risks
A nationwide ground stop began Friday afternoon after air traffic control systems failed, delaying thousands of flights.
By Jillian Foster ·
The Federal Aviation Administration ordered a temporary halt to all departing flights in the United States on Friday afternoon. The agency cited extraordinary circumstances and safety concerns as the reason for the stoppage. The advisory instructed that all departing traffic remain on the ground until further notice. Inbound international flights were to be managed on a case-by-case basis.
This marks the second full nationwide ground stop since September 11, 2001. The previous incident occurred in 2023 when a pilot notification system failed. Officials have not yet determined how long the current disruption will last. The stoppage affected airports across the country, including Los Angeles International Airport.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy stated that FAA technicians are investigating the communication issue that affected air traffic control centers. He said the department would provide immediate updates as information becomes available. As of 2 p.m., FlightAware data showed more than 7,800 flights were delayed nationwide. Approximately 1,000 flights had been cancelled by that time.
In Charlotte, North Carolina, Dylan Schroeder, 37, was aboard a plane headed to Orlando when the pilot made an announcement. Schroeder, a resident of Baton Rouge, said the pilot explained that air traffic control was experiencing system issues. The plane remained on the ground for just over an hour before passengers were told to deplane. Schroeder described the mood on the plane as decent given the situation, though some travelers headed to Disney World appeared disappointed.
Audio recorded from air traffic control channels provided further details on the operational disruption. A controller in San Diego informed pilots on the runway that the ground stop was real, countering initial disbelief from one pilot who asked if it was a joke. The controller attributed the stop to an equipment issue. On the same channel, voices speculated that the outage might be linked to a Microsoft Outlook failure on November 12, though the controller could not confirm that connection.
At the Chicago Air Route Traffic Control Center, a controller reported losing all frequencies and automation for handoffs and strips. These systems manage the transfer of flight responsibility between towers and track individual aircraft. At Denver International Airport, a controller told a pilot the stoppage was expected to last more than six hours. The ground stop was set to remain in effect until 9 p.m. local time in Denver, or 8 p.m. in California.
California Governor Gavin Newsom's press office said the state's Office of Emergency Services is contacting federal and state officials. They are working to determine the full impact on the state's airports and passengers. Major carriers United and Delta have posted alerts on their websites. United advised that planes already in flight would continue their journeys, while departing planes were being held on the ground.
Passengers are encouraged to check flight status or rebook through airline apps. The FAA continues to investigate the root cause of the communication failure. Updates are expected as technicians gather more data on the system malfunction.
