All US flights grounded by FAA

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has issued an advisory that has halted all flights in U.S. airspace, causing significant disruption for travelers and airports across the nation. This nationwide ground stop comes after a communication issue impacted all Air Route Traffic Control Centers (ARTCCs), according to US Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy. FAA technicians are currently investigating the underlying cause of the issue.

The FAA has stated that all departing flights have been halted, and international flights will be handled on a case-by-case basis. The notice issued by the FAA emphasizes that the ground stop is due to "extraordinary circumstances and for reasons of safety." Air traffic controllers at San Francisco International Airport confirmed the nationwide ground stop, noting that arriving flights are landing as usual, but departures are grounded.

Doug Yakel, public information officer for San Francisco International Airport, stated that the FAA had confirmed the ground stop, with reports indicating a communication issue between ARTCCs. The problem is being treated as a temporary telecommunications outage. The FAA's Telecommunications Infrastructure (FTI), managed by L3Harris, is responsible for providing secure communication to over 4,400 facilities.

This ground stop follows a major Microsoft outage that has affected numerous Microsoft-hosted services, particularly email, for over 24 hours. While there is no current indication that the two incidents are related, updates will be provided as more information becomes available.