An extremely rare nationwide ground stop has been issued Friday across the US due to “extraordinary circumstances and for reasons of safety,” the Federal Aviation Administration said.
The agency issued the advisory around 4 p.m. EST Friday, saying inbound international flights would be managed on a case by case basis.
Passengers stand in the American Airlines terminal at Chicago O’Hare International Airport in Chicago, Tuesday, April 14, 2026. REUTERS Federal Aviation Administration Department of Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said the stoppage was due to 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,” he said on X.
Nationwide ground stops have been issued only twice before: in January 2023 over a broke pilot notification system and after the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks.
This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.
