All flights in US under ‘Ground Stop’ orders for first time since 9/11

All flights across the United States have been placed under a "Ground Stop" order for the first time since the 9/11 attacks, according to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). The unprecedented measure was taken due to a communication failure that affected Air Route Traffic Control Centers nationwide, leading to safety concerns.

Despite aircraft already in the air being allowed to reach their destinations, no flights may depart from any American airport until further notice. Inbound international flights are being managed on a case-by-case basis. The FAA is working to identify the cause of the issue, but there is currently no timeline for when normal operations will resume.

This is the second nationwide ground stop of departures since the 9/11 attacks, with the previous one occurring in January 2023 due to a pilot notification system failure. The current disruption, while not as severe as the full airspace closure experienced post-9/11, is expected to cause significant delays as aircraft and crews become out of position.

Travelers with flights to or from the United States, or those connecting through American hubs, are advised to check with their airlines before heading to the airport. Recent months have already seen several aviation-related challenges, including UK air traffic control failures that delayed flights to Spain and a Gatwick runway incident that briefly halted departures, including those to Spain.

As such, anyone with travel plans involving the United States is advised to closely monitor airline updates. The FAA has not yet provided a restart time, and further delays are likely even after the ground stop is lifted.