The Federal Aviation Administration has issued a nationwide ground stop for flights across the United States on Friday, Nov. 13, citing extraordinary circumstances and safety concerns related to an air traffic control issue.
The directive instructs all departing aircraft to remain on the ground until further notice. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said the ground stop followed a communication issue affecting all Air Route Traffic Control Centers.
"FAA technicians are investigating the issue," Duffy said in a post on X. He said the agency would provide updates as they become available.
Flight tracking company Flightradar24 reported that the FAA issued the order following an equipment outage. The FAA's advisory also cited frequency issues across
the National Airspace System.
Flights already in the air are not being ordered to land immediately. International flights heading to the United States will be handled on a case-by-case basis, according to the advisory.
How long will the FAA ground stop last?
The FAA advisory lists an effective period beginning at 3:54 p.m. ET on Nov. 13 and extending to 11:30 p.m. ET.
However, the directive instructs departing aircraft to remain grounded until further notice. The listed expiration time does not guarantee that flights will resume by then.
The FAA has not provided an estimate for when normal flight operations will return.
What does a nationwide ground stop mean for travelers?
A ground stop is an FAA directive that temporarily prevents affected aircraft from departing their airports. It does not necessarily mean all flights have been canceled.
The disruption could lead to delays, missed connections and schedule changes as airlines adjust their operations.
Passengers scheduled to fly Friday should check their airline's website or mobile app for the latest updates before heading to the airport. Travelers should also monitor notifications from their airlines for changes to departure times or cancellations.
The FAA advisory does not specify how many flights or passengers could be affected by the nationwide ground stop.
Reporter Anthony Thompson can be reached at ajthompson@usatodayco.com or on X @athompsonUSAT
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Ground stop live updates: FAA orders flights to remain grounded nationwide
