Rare nationwide ground stop ordered at airports over communication issues: FAA

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has issued a nationwide ground stop at all airports on Friday, marking the second such order since September 11, 2001. The decision comes due to a communication issue affecting air traffic control, as stated in the agency's alert. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy later confirmed the ground stop via an X post, attributing it to a communication issue impacting all Air Route Traffic Control Centers.

FAA technicians are currently investigating the issue, according to Duffy. This is not the first time the FAA has ordered a nationwide ground stop since the 9/11 attacks. The last instance occurred in 2023 when the FAA's NOTAM system went down, preventing pilots from accessing their pre-departure paperwork.

Air Route Traffic Control Centers are responsible for managing flights above 18,000 feet across the United States. There are 22 of these centers nationwide. Pilots who are already in the air have their flight plans and are prepared to continue their journey in case of an emergency. John Nance, an ABC News contributor, noted that all pilots in this situation are well aware of the necessary actions to take.

Earlier in the day, the FAA had also issued a ground stop at Chicago's O'Hare and Midway airports due to an equipment outage. This situation is still developing, and updates will be provided as more information becomes available.