A ground stop is an order from the FAA that keeps flights that haven’t taken off yet on the ground. Planes already in the air keep flying and land as planned. Ground stops are usually for one airport, often because of storms. A nationwide ground stop, like the one on Nov. 13, 2026, is very rare: the last one was in January 2023.
The nationwide ground stop of Nov. 13, 2026
On Friday afternoon, Nov. 13, 2026, the FAA ordered a nationwide ground stop for departing flights, saying it was “due to extraordinary circumstances and for reasons of safety.” The Transportation secretary blamed “a communication issue impacting all Air Route Traffic Control Centers,” the regional centers that guide planes between airports, and the Homeland Security secretary called it a telecommunications outage with no indication of a nefarious attack.
- About 3,000 flights were in the air when the order was issued. They continued to land.
- By about 5:45 p.m. Eastern, more than 10,300 flights were delayed and more than 1,300 canceled, and the numbers were still climbing.
- The FAA lifted the ground stop Friday evening, after about four hours. More than 4,000 flights were canceled, and airlines warned that cancellations would stretch into the weekend.
- It was the first nationwide ground stop since January 2023.
Facts from public news reports as of Friday night, Nov. 13, 2026. For your own flight, check your airline’s app. For official FAA status, see FAA NAS Status ↗.
Air traffic controllers across the country worked through it to keep every flight in the air safely separated and get them on the ground. Leave them a free thank-you →
What a ground stop is
A ground stop is one of the tools the FAA uses to manage traffic when the system can’t safely handle the usual number of flights. Flights headed for an airport (or, in a nationwide stop, all flights) are held at their departure airports until the problem is fixed. Pilots don’t get permission to take off, so planes wait at the gate or on the ground.
It isn’t the same as:
- A ground delay program: flights still go, but each one gets a later departure time so they arrive spread out. These are common on stormy or windy days.
- An airport closure: the airport itself is closed, for example for runway work or an emergency.
- Closing the airspace: in a ground stop, the sky stays open, and planes already flying continue.
Most ground stops are local and short: one airport, for 30 minutes to a couple of hours, while a line of thunderstorms passes. You can see any that are happening right now on our airport closures and ground stops page.
Why one problem can stop flights everywhere
Between takeoff and landing, airliners spend most of their flight talking to one of the FAA’s en route centers: large air traffic control facilities that each watch over a huge piece of the country. Controllers there talk to pilots by radio, through networks of transmitters and phone lines that link the controllers to sites all over their area.
Controllers have to be able to reach every pilot at any moment. If that link becomes unreliable, they can’t safely take on new flights, so the FAA stops departures to keep more planes from entering the sky until communications are back. When the problem affects many centers at once, the stop has to be nationwide.
See which center covers your area on our map of all U.S. air traffic control centers.
What happens to planes already in the air
A ground stop doesn’t ground planes that are already flying. They continue to their destinations, or to another airport if the airline or controllers decide that’s safer. Controllers have backup frequencies, neighboring facilities and well-practiced procedures for exactly this, so they can keep every flight safely apart until it lands. Pilots train for losing radio contact too, and follow set rules about the route and altitude to fly.
What happens after a ground stop lifts
Even after the FAA lifts a ground stop, flights don’t all leave at once. Departures are released gradually so the sky doesn’t get overloaded. Planes and crews end up in the wrong cities, crews run into their legal work-hour limits, and airlines cancel flights to reset their schedules. That’s why delays and cancellations often carry into the next day, even after the original problem is fixed.
If your flight is affected
- Use your airline’s app for your flight’s status and rebooking. It’s usually faster than waiting in line or on the phone.
- If your flight is canceled and you decide not to travel, U.S. rules say you’re entitled to a refund of your ticket, not just a credit.
- Expect a slow restart. Even if your flight is still listed, it may leave late as airlines work through the backlog.
- Be kind to the people at the airport. Gate agents, crews and controllers didn’t cause the problem, and they’re working hard to fix it.
Nationwide ground stops in the past
January 11, 2023
The FAA stopped all departing flights nationwide for part of the morning after an outage of the system that sends pilots important safety notices (NOTAMs). Thousands of flights were delayed that day.
September 11, 2001
After the attacks, the FAA stopped all departures and ordered every plane in U.S. airspace to land at the nearest suitable airport. Controllers safely brought down thousands of aircraft in a few hours, and the airspace stayed closed for days.
The people behind it
When something goes wrong in the system, air traffic controllers are the ones keeping every plane already in the air safely apart and talking pilots down. If you were flying, waiting or just following along, you can thank them. Every control tower and center has a free thank-you wall. Find a facility and leave a note →
Sources
- Fox Weather, Ground stop ordered by FAA at all airports in America (Nov. 13, 2026)
- ABC News, FAA ground stop live updates (Nov. 13, 2026)
- Associated Press via News4Jax, Flights halted at airports across US due to air traffic control communications problems (Nov. 13, 2026)
- CNBC, FAA lifts ground stop after four hours, but flight cancellations will stretch into the weekend (Nov. 13, 2026)
- FAA, National Airspace System status
- U.S. Department of Transportation, Refunds for canceled flights
Common questions
How long did the Nov. 13, 2026 ground stop last?
About four hours. The FAA lifted the nationwide ground stop on Friday evening, but more than 4,000 flights had been canceled and airlines warned that cancellations would continue into the weekend.
What is a ground stop?
A ground stop is an FAA order that keeps flights that haven’t taken off yet on the ground, usually for one airport and often because of weather. Planes already in the air keep flying and land as planned.
Why was there a nationwide ground stop on Nov. 13, 2026?
The FAA cited extraordinary circumstances and safety. The Transportation secretary blamed a communication issue affecting all of the FAA’s en route centers, and the Homeland Security secretary called it a telecommunications outage with no indication of a nefarious attack.
What happens to planes already in the air during a ground stop?
They keep flying. Air traffic controllers keep them safely separated and guide them to their destinations or to another airport. A ground stop only keeps new flights from taking off.
How long do ground stops last?
Most ground stops for one airport last 30 minutes to a couple of hours. Even after a nationwide stop lifts, delays and cancellations can carry into the next day while airlines get planes and crews back where they need to be.
What is the difference between a ground stop and a ground delay?
In a ground stop, flights don’t leave at all until it’s lifted. In a ground delay program, flights still go, but each gets a later departure time so arrivals are spread out.
Has the FAA ever stopped all flights before?
Yes. The FAA stopped departures nationwide on January 11, 2023, after an outage of its pilot safety-notice system, and on September 11, 2001, when it also ordered every plane in the air to land.
Can I get a refund if my flight is canceled?
Under U.S. Department of Transportation rules, if your flight is canceled and you choose not to travel, you’re entitled to a refund of your ticket rather than a credit. Your airline’s app or website is the fastest place to request it.