FAA grounds flights nationwide after communications issues spark massive delays

Following a communication problem affecting all Air Route Traffic Control Centers, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) initiated a nationwide ground stop across US airports on Friday. This decision, which came just after 4:15 pm Eastern time, was attributed to "extraordinary circumstances and reasons of safety" by Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy.

The FAA is investigating the cause of the issue and will provide regular updates as they become available. At least seven thousand flights have been delayed so far, according to Flightradar24.

The airports most severely impacted include Newark Liberty International in New Jersey, where delays averaged over 75 minutes, Houston-Bush Intercontinental with 60 minutes delays, and Chicago O'Hare, where delays reached 90 minutes. Inbound international flights are being handled on a case-by-case basis. The last nationwide ground stop occurred in January 2023, lasting around 90 minutes, and the one before that was on September 11, 2001.

FAA officials, including Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin, emphasized that the issue is not a safety concern but rather a communications-related problem. They have not discussed any timeframe for resolving the situation. Despite the delays, planes en route can still land, following their flight plans and using backup methods if necessary. Airlines are notifying passengers of the situation, with United and Delta both informing their customers about the impact on their flights.

Experts warn that the current delays could lead to a crew rest crisis, making the coming days particularly challenging. Major hubs are reportedly running out of space for stranded planes, further complicating the situation.