---
title: "US Imposes Nationwide Ground Stop: FAA Halts All Flights Due to Air Traffic Control System Failure"
description: "The FAA has imposed a nationwide ground stop at all US airports due to a communication system failure in air traffic control. Flights are suspended until further notice, and international arrivals are handled on a case-by-case basis."
date: 2026-11-13T21:36:04.967Z
lang: en
url: https://xab.info/en/posts/us-faa-ground-stop-all-airports
tags: [us, faa, aviation, air-traffic-control, grounding]
author: "Roman V."
publisher: "XAB.info"
---

# US Imposes Nationwide Ground Stop: FAA Halts All Flights Due to Air Traffic Control System Failure

![United Airlines passenger plane taxiing on the runway at an airport against infrastructure background](https://xab.info/media/2026/11/13/ssha-faa-pristanovali-vylety-vo-vseh-aeroportah/ssha-faa-pristanovali-vylety-vo-vseh-aeroportah-1.webp)

## Key Points

- The FAA imposed a nationwide ground stop at all US airports on November 13, 2026
- The decision was explained by 'extraordinary circumstances and safety considerations'
- The cause was communication failures in the air traffic control system, following a suspension in Chicago
- Arriving international flights are being handled on a case-by-case basis
- No timeframe has been given for lifting restrictions; the FAA called the event unprecedented

On Friday, November 13, 2026, the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) imposed a nationwide ground stop for aircraft at all airports across the country. In an official statement, the agency attributed the decision to "extraordinary circumstances and safety considerations." "All departing flights must remain grounded until further notice," the FAA said. The restrictions affected the entire American airport network and effectively paralyzed outgoing air traffic across the United States.

### What is Known About the Details of the Decision

According to the agency, the suspension applies specifically to departing flights: all of them must remain on the ground until further notice. At the same time, the FAA clarified that "issues concerning arriving international flights will be handled on a case-by-case basis." Thus, aircraft may enter the country in coordination with air traffic control services, while departures from US airports are completely halted. The agency has not yet specified the exact timeframe during which the restrictions will remain in place.

### The Cause: Massive Communications Failure

The nationwide ground stop followed earlier reports from the FAA regarding communication problems within the air traffic control system. Shortly before announcing the nationwide ban, the agency had already suspended traffic in Chicago due to a communication failure with air traffic control. According to Clash Report, the restrictions may be linked to issues on the frequencies of the US National Airspace System (NAS), with several air traffic control centers reporting communication disruptions almost simultaneously. The FAA has not officially disclosed the exact cause of the incident, and an agency spokesperson called the grounding of all departures "an absolutely unprecedented event.">

### A Rare Occurrence in American Aviation

As Sky News notes, a nationwide flight ban is an infrequent occurrence in the US, implemented only in emergency situations. The last time a similar measure was used was in January 2023, when the pilot notification system failed. The network suggests that the current ban is related to a technical glitch in the communication system. The scale of the current restrictions, according to experts, exceeds previous incidents because it involves a nationwide, rather than local, suspension of departing flights.

### Timeline and Consequences

When exactly the restrictions will be lifted is unknown at the time of publication: the FAA is operating on a "until further notice" basis. For passengers and airlines, this means massive delays and cancellations, rebookings, and flight reschedules nationwide. The FAA continues to gather data on the state of the air traffic control system and, according to reports, does not rule out a phased restoration of traffic as the glitch is resolved. The agency promises to publish updates as information becomes available.

## Fact-Check & Sources

- [Во всех аэропортах США приостановили вылеты самолетов](https://www.rbc.ua/ukr/news/vsih-aeroportah-ssha-prizupinili-viloti-litakiv-1794605532.html) - Primary source: FAA statement on suspending all departures, case-by-case handling of arrivals, and prior communication glitch in Chicago.
- [В США приостановили вылеты самолетов из всех аэропортов](https://meduza.io/news/2026/11/14/v-ssha-priostanovili-vylety-samoletov-iz-vseh-aeroportov) - Cites Axios and Sky News; points out the rarity of a nationwide ban and the last occurrence in January 2023.
- [Во всех аэропортах США приостановили вылеты самолетов](https://charter97.org/ru/news/2026/11/14/705493/) - Adds Clash Report data on NAS frequency disruptions and an FAA spokesperson's statement on an 'unprecedented' event.
- [США приостановили авиасообщение по всей стране: что заставило власти пойти на такой шаг](https://focus.ua/world/774675-ssha-priostanovili-aviasoobshchenie-po-vsey-strane-prichina-i-podrobnosti) - Confirms the nationwide nature of the flight suspension.

## FAQ

### What exactly was banned in the US on November 13, 2026?

The FAA imposed a nationwide ground stop for aircraft at all airports across the country. All departing flights are suspended until further notice, while arriving international flights are handled on a case-by-case basis.

### What is the cause of the flight suspension?

The agency cited 'extraordinary circumstances and safety considerations.' Earlier, the FAA reported communication issues in the air traffic control system and halted traffic in Chicago; according to Clash Report, disruptions were recorded on US National Airspace System frequencies. The FAA has not officially disclosed the exact cause.

### When will the restrictions be lifted?

No timeframe has been provided: the FAA is operating on an 'until further notice' basis. The agency promises to publish updates as the glitch is resolved.