US Halts Takeoffs Nationwide as About 7,000 Flights Are Delayed or Cancelled
The US Federal Aviation Administration stopped aircraft departures across the country on Friday, 13 November, after serious communications failures affecting air traffic control. About 7,000 flights have been delayed or cancelled, according to flight tracking data.
The United States suspended aircraft takeoffs nationwide on Friday, 13 November. The order came from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the agency that oversees civil aviation, after serious failures in communications systems. About 7,000 flights have reportedly been delayed or cancelled. Restrictions of this scale have been imposed only a few times in the past 25 years.
What the FAA said
The agency said that, until further notice, all aircraft due to depart from US airports must stay on the ground. It cited extraordinary circumstances and safety considerations. Planes already airborne do not necessarily have to land: the restriction covers departures, while international flights arriving in the US are assessed individually.
The cause
According to the Associated Press, the problems hit communications systems used by regional air traffic control centers. US Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said the disruption affects all 22 such centers, which coordinate aircraft movements between airports. FAA technical specialists have begun investigating.
Initial information, reported by CNN citing two law enforcement officials, does not point to a cyberattack. The cause of the fault has not been officially confirmed. CBS News reported that shortly before the nationwide order, takeoffs had already been halted at two Chicago airports, O'Hare and Midway, because of equipment problems. It is unclear whether this was the direct trigger for the national measure.
Impact on passengers
Aircraft and crew schedules are closely linked, so delays may continue after the restrictions are lifted. Travelers flying to, from or through the US are advised to follow airline announcements and check their flight status.
Previous cases
The Associated Press notes that the last comparable halt came in January 2023, when an FAA computer system that provides pilots with safety notices failed; departures were paused for under two hours. Before that, similar restrictions followed the terrorist attacks of 11 September 2001.
Aging infrastructure
The US has been modernizing its outdated air traffic control systems for several years. In 2025 Congress approved $12.5 billion for this, but Duffy has said about $30 billion more is needed. Al Jazeera reports that the FAA and the White House asked Congress on Friday for another $30.1 billion. No official date has been given for lifting the restrictions.
