WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Federal Aviation Administration ordered a nationwide halt to aircraft departures Friday afternoon, November 13, after a communications failure disrupted the regional air traffic control centers responsible for guiding planes across the United States.
The extraordinary order, issued shortly before 4 p.m. Eastern, affected airports throughout the country, including Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey and John F. Kennedy International and LaGuardia airports in New York.
The FAA imposed the emergency ground stop as a safety precaution while technicians investigated the disruption. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy confirmed that the communications problem affected all 22 regional air traffic control centers that manage aircraft traveling between airports.
The order required departing aircraft to remain on the ground until further notice. Planes already airborne were permitted to continue to their destinations, while incoming international flights were to be handled individually.
What Caused the Nationwide Shutdown?
Federal authorities described the incident as a telecommunications outage affecting the air traffic control network.
Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin said there was no initial indication of a deliberate attack or other malicious activity. Officials emphasized that aircraft already in flight were accounted for and that passenger safety remained the priority.
The precise technical cause had not been established as investigators examined the disruption.
The incident also renewed questions about the condition of the nation’s aging air traffic control infrastructure.
The federal government has been working to replace outdated communications equipment, including copper wiring and radio systems, as part of a major modernization effort. Congress approved $12.5 billion for improvements last year, although Duffy has said substantially more funding will be required to complete the work.
Thousands of Flights Delayed Across the Country
The disruption came during a busy Friday travel period, leaving airlines and passengers facing widespread uncertainty.
According to flight tracking data cited by The Verge, FlightAware had recorded 7,884 delayed flights across the United States by 4:56 p.m. Eastern.
That figure represented total flight delays nationwide at the time, not the number directly caused by the FAA emergency order.
The extent of cancellations and the time needed to restore normal flight schedules remained unclear.
For passengers traveling through Newark, JFK and LaGuardia, the nationwide restriction added another complication to an already congested regional airspace.
Even after a ground stop is lifted, airlines may need additional time to reposition aircraft, adjust crew schedules and accommodate passengers whose departures were delayed.
First Nationwide Ground Stop Since 2023
Friday’s emergency order was the first nationwide ground stop since January 2023, when a failure of the FAA’s Notice to Air Missions computer system forced the temporary suspension of domestic departures.
Before that, the last comparable nationwide shutdown followed the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.
Unlike the September 11 shutdown, Friday’s directive did not require all aircraft already in the air to land immediately.
The initial FAA advisory listed 11 p.m. Eastern as its scheduled end time, but that did not guarantee flights would resume at that hour.
As of the reports reviewed for this article, officials had not confirmed when normal nationwide operations would be restored.
Travelers scheduled to depart from Newark Liberty International Airport or other affected airports were advised to check directly with their airlines for flight status, cancellations and rebooking options.
Sources: Associated Press; The Verge; Federal Aviation Administration; U.S. Department of Transportation; FlightAware.
By NJ RADAR Team
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