FAA Issues Nationwide Ground Stop After Communication Issue Affects Air Route Traffic Control Centers

WASHINGTON — The Federal Aviation Administration ordered all U.S. airports to hold departing traffic on November 13 after what Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said was “a communication issue impacting all Air Route Traffic Control Centers.” Earlier the same day the command center issued ground stops for Chicago O’Hare and Midway citing equipment outage.

The Air Traffic Control System Command Center issued Advisory 111 at 8:54 PM UTC. Its event window ran from 8:53 PM UTC November 13 through 4:00 AM UTC November 14, with an effective time through 4:30 AM UTC November 14.

The advisory ordered all airports ground stopped due to extraordinary circumstances and for reasons of safety, with all departing traffic to remain ground stopped until further notice and inbound international flights managed on a case-by-case basis. Aircraft already airborne were permitted to continue.

American Airlines stated on its official account that the FAA was working to resolve a technical issue affecting telecommunications at many air traffic control facilities across the country.

Locations Affected

• The ground stop applies to all airports in the United States. Air Route Traffic Control Centers are the en-route facilities that handle aircraft in the cruise phase across U.S. airspace.

Official Statements

• Air Traffic Control System Command Center, November 13: “Due to extraordinary circumstances and for reasons of safety. Attention all aircraft Operators, by Order of the Federal Aviation Command Center all airports are ground stopped. All departing Traffic Should remain ground stopped until further notice. Inbound international flights will Be managed on a Case by Case basis.”

• Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, November 13 (9:16 PM UTC): “The @FAAnews issued a nationwide ground stop for all U.S. airports following a communication issue impacting all Air Route Traffic Control Centers. FAA technicians are investigating the issue. We will provide immediate updates as we have them.”

• American Airlines, November 13 (9:24 PM UTC): “The FAA is working to resolve a technical issue affecting telecommunications at many air traffic control facilities across the country.”