FAA nationwide ground stop causes widespread flight cancellations in the United States

The Federal Aviation Administration issued a nationwide ground stop on Friday, November 13, 2026, causing widespread flight cancellations across the United States. The disruption occurred at approximately 3:36 p.m. and lasted for approximately four hours before the airspace was fully reopened. This maintenance-related stoppage impacted thousands of travelers and disrupted national aviation schedules.

Causes of the aviation disruption

The disruption stemmed from routine maintenance work intended to modernize telecommunications infrastructure. U.S. Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy said the issue stemmed from routine maintenance to switch from copper to fiber optic lines. The work involved replacing legacy copper wiring with fiber optic cables at a remote Federal Aviation Administration facility.

L3Harris, the federal contractor performing the maintenance, has completed over 70% of the planned airspace communications conversion. However, the transition between old and new systems created significant operational challenges. Secretary of Homeland Security Markwayne Mullin stated that new technology overwhelmed the older system, making the patchwork ineffective.

Impact on flight schedules

The ground stop resulted in significant cancellations for both Friday and Saturday. According to FlightAware, 9,200 flights were canceled on Friday, November 13, 2026. On Saturday, November 14, 2026, an additional 6,200 flights were canceled due to staffing and aircraft positioning issues.

The scale of the disruption was significant given that the United States handles more than 45,000 flights daily. At the time the ground stop was issued, more than 3,500 aircraft were already in the air. Federal Aviation Administration Administrator Bryan Bedford stated that full schedule integrity is expected by the close of business on Sunday, November 15, 2026. Administrator Bryan Bedford also noted that the worst of the disruption is likely over.

Aging air traffic infrastructure

The incident highlights ongoing challenges regarding the age of the air traffic control system. The system relies on antiquated technology, including some towers with an average age of 40 years. Some parts of the system are still running Windows 95. The United States air traffic control system relies on antiquated equipment, including copper wiring and floppy discs, for nearly a third of the system.

Industry experts have noted the difficulty of maintaining such an aging network. Henry Harteveldt, President of Atmosphere Research Group, said aviation technology is becoming difficult to maintain as parts age and become obsolete.

Glossary

• Federal Aviation Administration — The Federal Aviation Administration is a government agency that issues charting notices and maintains databases and aeronautical charts. It is responsible for updating aeronautical information and managing aviation-related data.
• ground stop — A ground stop or ground delay is an action issued by the FAA. It can be used to manage flight schedules during equipment outages or other operational issues.
• Secretary of Homeland Security — The Secretary of Homeland Security is a high-level official within the Department of Homeland Security. This role is supported by a Deputy Secretary and several Under Secretaries.
• L3Harris — L3Harris Technologies, Inc. is an American technology company, defense contractor, and information technology services provider. It produces products for various sectors, including command and control systems, avionics, and intelligence systems.