US grounds all departing flights due to ‘extraordinary circumstance, safety reasons’

The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has grounded all departing flights across the nation on Friday due to unprecedented circumstances and safety concerns. This unprecedented measure follows earlier reports of significant air traffic control communication issues. While flights currently in the air will be permitted to land, no flights will be allowed to take off from the ground.

Shortly before the announcement, the FAA temporarily halted air traffic in Chicago due to similar communication issues. The agency has instructed all departing flights to remain grounded until further notice. Internationally, the FAA will manage each situation on a case-by-case basis.

US Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy reported that FAA technicians are actively investigating the issue and will provide updates as soon as possible. The FAA issued a nationwide ground stop for all U.S. airports following a communication problem affecting all Air Route Traffic Control Centers. FAA technicians are diligently investigating the issue, and immediate updates will be provided as they become available.

The event marks the second nationwide ground stop of all departures since the September 11, 2001, attacks, with the previous one occurring in January 2023, when the FAA halted domestic departures for less than two hours. In response to the crisis, Congress approved $12.5 billion last year to address the FAA's aging communications system. The FAA and the White House are now seeking an additional $30.1 billion to tackle further issues.