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US grounds flights nationwide after air traffic control communications outage

US grounds flights nationwide after air traffic control communications outage

By David Shepardson WASHINGTON, Nov 13 (Reuters) - The US Federal Aviation Administration grounded all departing flights nationwide on Friday after a communications failure hit air traffic control centers across the country, disrupting thousands of flights.

Could another FAA ground stop be coming?

Could another FAA ground stop be coming?

Friday's FAA outage grounded flights nationwide. An aviation expert explains why travelers may see more disruptions without increased safety risks.

FAA Lifts Nationwide Flight Ground Stop Following Communications Failure

FAA Lifts Nationwide Flight Ground Stop Following Communications Failure

The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) lifted a nationwide ground stop on Friday after a significant communications failure at air traffic control centers caused widespread disruption at airports across the country. The issue led to the longest nationwide flight shutdown since the September 11, 2001, attacks. While flights already in the air were permitted to land, no planes on the ground were allowed to take off. The FAA's decision to ground all departing flights created chaos, with numerous delays and cancellations impacting travelers and airline operations. The agency worked to resolve the technical issues that led to the communication breakdown, eventually restoring normal operations and allowing flights to resume. The exact cause of the communications failure has not been detailed in the immediate aftermath of the resolution.

Nationwide Ground Stop Issued by FAA, Nashville Airport Advises Travelers to Check Flight Status

Nationwide Ground Stop Issued by FAA, Nashville Airport Advises Travelers to Check Flight Status

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued a nationwide ground stop for all departing flights on Friday due to unspecified 'extraordinary circumstances and for reasons of safety.' This directive required all departing aircraft to remain grounded, while inbound international flights were to be managed on a case-by-case basis. Nashville International Airport (BNA) promptly advised travelers to contact their respective airlines for updates on flight statuses before heading to the airport. The FAA's advisory did not provide specific details regarding the underlying circumstances that necessitated the ground stop. This event marks a significant disruption to air travel across the United States. The FAA typically posts broader operational information on its National Airspace System status page for public reference.

Italian Air Force E-550 CAEW Aircraft Experiences GNSS Interference Over Black Sea

Italian Air Force E-550 CAEW Aircraft Experiences GNSS Interference Over Black Sea

An Italian Air Force E-550 Conformal Airborne Early Warning (CAEW) aircraft, identified as a Gulfstream G550 business jet converted into a flying radar station, has reportedly experienced significant satellite navigation (GNSS) interference during its third mission over the Black Sea within a week. According to the Italian flight-tracking project ItaMilRadar, the aircraft's position on public flight-tracking maps appeared 'unusually distorted,' indicating jamming or spoofing of the satellite signals it uses for navigation. The E-550 CAEW, with registration MM62303 and call sign IAM1495, took off from Pratica di Mare Air Base near Rome. This incident follows a broader pattern of satellite navigation interference observed along nearly all of NATO’s eastern flank on November 3, stretching from the southern Baltic Sea through Poland and Romania to the western Black Sea. While the tracking data alone cannot pinpoint the precise source of the disruption, the frequency of these flights suggests sustained Italian ...

FAA Issues Rare Nationwide Ground Stop Following Communication Issues, Disrupting U.S. Air Travel

FAA Issues Rare Nationwide Ground Stop Following Communication Issues, Disrupting U.S. Air Travel

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued a nationwide ground stop on Friday, November 13, 2026, severely impacting hundreds of flights across the United States. This rare measure was implemented due to communication problems affecting multiple air traffic control centers. An internal report from Alaska Air Group (ALK) confirmed that the air traffic control system collapse was primarily caused by technical malfunctions in communication and radar equipment. The ground stop mandates that all flights scheduled to depart remain at their origin airports to ensure absolute safety during flight operations and with ground infrastructure. For international flights already en route to the U.S., authorities stated that a case-by-case review and guidance approach would be adopted. FAA technical personnel are actively investigating the issue to restore normal flight operations as quickly as possible.

White House and DOT Request $30.1 Billion for Airport and Air Traffic Control Upgrades

White House and DOT Request $30.1 Billion for Airport and Air Traffic Control Upgrades

The White House and the Department of Transportation (DOT) have formally requested Congress to approve an additional $30.1 billion to modernize the United States' airports and air traffic control (ATC) system. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy and Office of Management and Budget Director Russell Vought sent a letter to lawmakers, emphasizing the critical need for this investment to complete the modernization of the national airspace. The proposed funding includes $7.2 billion for a common automation platform and controller workstations, $2 billion for cloud computing, and another $2 billion to replace and improve Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) air traffic control towers. Additionally, $18 billion is earmarked for airport-related projects, with $10 billion specifically for modernizing or replacing aging terminals. This request follows a previous congressional approval of $12.5 billion over five years in July 2025 for ATC upgrades and increased controller hiring, which was prompted by concerns over ...

Nationwide FAA Ground Stop Disrupts U.S. Air Travel, Passengers Face Cancellations and Delays

Nationwide FAA Ground Stop Disrupts U.S. Air Travel, Passengers Face Cancellations and Delays

A nationwide ground stop ordered by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) on Friday, November 13, 2026, halted all departing flights across the United States. The FAA cited 'extraordinary circumstances and safety' due to air traffic control communication issues. Flights already in the air were permitted to land, while international flights were handled on a case-by-case basis. This event marks the third time all U.S. departures have been grounded, following incidents on September 11, 2001, and January 11, 2023, when a pilot notification system malfunctioned. The disruption caused widespread delays, cancellations, and missed connections, leaving hundreds of thousands of passengers stranded and seeking information. Travelers are advised to consult their airline's app or website for the most current flight status.

Spain and Poland Outpace Eurozone Economic Growth as Germany's Industrial Heart Stalls

Spain and Poland Outpace Eurozone Economic Growth as Germany's Industrial Heart Stalls

Spain and Poland Outpace Eurozone Economic Growth as Germany's Industrial Heart Stalls

Poland and Ukraine Establish Joint Working Groups on Drone Technology, Discuss MiG-29 Exchange

Poland and Ukraine Establish Joint Working Groups on Drone Technology, Discuss MiG-29 Exchange

Poland and Ukraine have agreed to form joint working groups focused on unmanned aerial systems (UAS) and counter-UAS technologies. This development comes as Poland seeks to gain access to Ukraine's battlefield experience in drone warfare. In exchange, Warsaw is considering transferring additional MiG-29 fighter aircraft to Kyiv, potentially involving two jets, though the final terms of this exchange are still being negotiated. The agreement was signed in Kyiv by Polish Deputy Defense Minister Cezary Tomczyk and Ukrainian Deputy Defense Minister Serhiy Boiev. Discussions also included broader military-industrial cooperation and defense technology transfers, with ballistic missile defense being a key topic. This collaboration follows earlier disagreements regarding technology sharing, which had temporarily halted previous transfer plans. Poland's Deputy Defense Minister Tomczyk confirmed on X that Ukraine has agreed to provide necessary counter-drone technologies.

Poland's president joins a nationalist march as the country reels from the Krakow shooting

Poland's president joins a nationalist march as the country reels from the Krakow shooting

Polish President Karol Nawrocki joins thousands of right-wing demonstractors at an annual march in the capital to mark Independence Day

EASA and EUROCONTROL Implement Action Plan to Address GNSS Interference in European Airspace

EASA and EUROCONTROL Implement Action Plan to Address GNSS Interference in European Airspace

The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) and EUROCONTROL have jointly published an Action Plan on March 26, 2026, to enhance the safety and resilience of European aviation against growing Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) interference. This interference, which includes both jamming and spoofing, has become a persistent issue in European and Middle Eastern airspace, moving beyond occasional hazards near conflict zones. The plan, developed in response to increasing operational concerns and political pressure from 13 EU Member States, outlines 22 actions across four workstreams: human performance, organizational management, aircraft design, and infrastructure. These measures aim to address issues such as incoherent navigation positions, re-routing, corrupted Terrain Awareness and Warning System (TAWS) outputs, and degraded Airborne Collision Avoidance System (ACAS) functions, which add significant workload for air traffic controllers and flight crews. The International Federation of Air Line P...