FAA nationwide ground stop occurs due to communications equipment failure

The Federal Aviation Administration issued a nationwide ground stop on Friday, November 13, 2026, after communications equipment failed. The outage disrupted air traffic control operations across the United States. The failure began at 3:36 p.m. when radar and communications systems started to falter, according to Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy.

Causes of the communications failure

The outage was caused by outdated telecommunications equipment becoming overloaded with data. This specific issue involved a router during maintenance at a remote facility. The exact cause of the failure remains unconfirmed, as officials are debating whether the incident resulted from a faulty router or incompetence. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy stated that the failure was caused by antiquated legacy equipment rather than recent upgrades.

Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin stated there is zero evidence that the technology failure was a cyberattack. This incident marks the third nationwide ground stop issued by the Federal Aviation Administration in the 21st century. The failure occurred less than two months after a separate incident involving a circuit failure and a severed fiber optic cable caused delays on the East Coast.

Impact on flight schedules

The disruption led to significant delays and cancellations for travelers. FlightAware reported that the incident resulted in over 2,500 flight cancellations on Saturday, November 14, 2026. The Federal Aviation Administration anticipated that between 4,000 and 5,000 scheduled flights would be cancelled for the day following the incident.

The Federal Aviation Administration lifted the nationwide ground stop at approximately 8:15 p.m. Eastern Time on November 13, 2026. Earlier in 2026, smaller outages occurred at Raleigh-Durham International Airport and George Bush Intercontinental Airport due to accidental fiber line cuts by contractors in October 2026.

Funding for system upgrades

The United States air traffic communications system has relied on analog copper wire, floppy disks, and old keyboards for decades. In 2025, the US Congress approved $12.5 billion for system upgrades. However, the White House and Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy have sought additional funding to modernize the infrastructure. The White House and Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy requested $30 billion for these upgrades, while Sean Duffy has specifically sought $50 billion for upgrades to the system.

Glossary

• Federal Aviation Administration — The Federal Aviation Administration is an agency that issues charting notices and manages databases and aeronautical charts. It is also an agency that can issue ground stops.
• ground stop — A ground stop or ground delay is an action issued by the FAA. It can be issued due to equipment outages.
• air traffic control — Air traffic control is a system used to manage airspace. In Brazil, the system is run by the Brazilian Air Force.
• Homeland Security Secretary — The Homeland Security Secretary is an official who oversees the Department of Homeland Security. This department also oversees the Secret Service.