FAA Orders Nationwide Ground Stop, Halting Departures at US Airports
The FAA cited safety concerns and said it would handle incoming international flights on a case-by-case basis.
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The Federal Aviation Administration halted departures at airports across the United States on Friday afternoon, issuing a rare nationwide ground stop that left airlines and travelers waiting for word on when flights could resume. The order took effect at 3:54 p.m. Eastern time and applied to domestic and international flights scheduled to depart from U.S. airports.
The FAA’s Air Traffic Control System Command Center cited “extraordinary circumstances and for reasons of safety” and directed all departing aircraft to remain on the ground until further notice. Flights already in the air were allowed to continue to their destinations, while the FAA said it would handle inbound international flights “on a case-by-case basis.” The advisory listed 11 p.m. Eastern as the estimated end of the stop. The agency had not yet confirmed when departures would resume.
Reuters reported that the agency had halted traffic in Chicago shortly before the national order because of air traffic control communications issues. FAA monitoring also showed equipment outages affecting Chicago O’Hare, Chicago Midway, and Newark Liberty, according to Business Insider.
“FAA technicians are investigating the issue, and we will provide updates,” the agency told CNN in a statement. The agency had yet to say whether those issues prompted the nationwide stop.
Even after the FAA clears flights to take off, airlines can need hours to get aircraft and crews back into position. When an outage of the FAA’s Notice to Air Missions system prompted a nationwide ground stop in January 2023, the agency lifted the order after about 90 minutes, but disruptions continued throughout the day. A Senate committee report counted 9,500 delays and more than 1,300 cancellations that day.
The FAA advises travelers to check directly with their airline for flight-specific updates before heading to the airport. For travel advisors, tight connections are an immediate concern, especially if the onward flight is on a separate ticket. A delayed departure can also mean a missed cruise embarkation or a late hotel arrival. Advisors can check with the airline about rebooking options and give transfer providers, hotels, or cruise lines a heads-up if a client’s arrival is likely to change.
