UPDATE (FRIDAY EVENING, NOVEMBER 13, 2026): THE FAA HAS LIFTED THE NATIONWIDE GROUND STOP AFTER MORE THAN 4 HOURS.
The Federal Aviation Administration has lifted its nationwide ground stop after more than 4 hours, allowing aircraft departures to resume Friday evening, November 13, 2026. However, thousands of passengers continue facing cancellations and delays as airlines struggle to recover from one of the most significant disruptions to U.S. aviation in years. The FAA nationwide ground stop was lifted after widespread telecommunications problems affected the nation’s air traffic control system.
According to flight-tracking reports cited by national news organizations, more than 10,000 flights had been delayed and over 4,000 canceled by Friday evening. Those numbers were continuing to change as airlines worked to restore normal operations.
What Caused the Nationwide Ground Stop?
U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said the FAA ordered the nationwide shutdown following communications problems affecting Air Route Traffic Control Centers across the country. These facilities coordinate aircraft traveling between airports and help maintain safe separation as planes move through U.S. airspace.
The FAA initially described the situation as involving extraordinary circumstances and aviation safety concerns. Federal aviation officials halted departing flights while technicians investigated the widespread communications problems. Aircraft already in the air were permitted to continue operating under appropriate safety procedures and land safely.
The exact technical cause had not been publicly established when the FAA nationwide ground stop was lifted.
Federal Officials Address Security Concerns
Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin said investigators had found no indication that the communications failure resulted from a deliberate attack.
Officials emphasized that aircraft already airborne were accounted for and that the precautionary shutdown was intended to protect aviation safety.
The communications problems also raised questions about the reliability of the nation’s aging air traffic control infrastructure and the need to modernize federal aviation systems. Federal investigators continued examining the disruption.
Thousands of Flights Canceled as Airlines Face Recovery Challenges
Although the nationwide ground stop has ended, normal airline operations are not expected to resume immediately. The lengthy interruption created significant scheduling problems as airplanes, flight crews and passengers were left in locations different from their planned destinations.
Some of the nation’s busiest airports, including Chicago O’Hare, Atlanta, Dallas-Fort Worth and major airports in the Northeast, experienced substantial disruptions.
JetBlue canceled its remaining domestic flights for Friday evening, while Air Canada canceled flights between the United States and Canada for the remainder of the evening. Other airlines also reported significant interruptions.
Travel disruptions could continue into Saturday, November 14, and possibly beyond as airlines work to return aircraft and flight crews to their regular schedules.
Arkansas Airports Impacted by Nationwide Shutdown
The nationwide disruption also affected Arkansas travelers.
At Bill and Hillary Clinton National Airport in Little Rock, flights involving Dallas, Dallas-Fort Worth, Atlanta, Charlotte and New York experienced delays Friday afternoon, according to Little Rock television station KATV.
Passengers traveling from Arkansas to connecting airports elsewhere in the country could experience further disruptions, even after the nationwide ground stop was lifted.
Travelers departing from Little Rock, Northwest Arkansas National Airport and other Arkansas airports are encouraged to verify their flight status directly with their airline before leaving for the airport.
What Passengers Should Do Now
- Check directly with your airline for updated departure times, cancellations and rebooking options.
- Passengers with connecting flights through Dallas, Atlanta, Chicago, Charlotte and other major airports should monitor their schedules carefully.
- Airlines may continue adjusting flight schedules throughout the weekend.
- Passengers whose flights have been canceled should review available refunds and rebooking arrangements.
The FAA provides national air traffic updates at https://www.fly.faa.gov/
First Nationwide Ground Stop Since 2023
Friday’s nationwide shutdown was the first since January 2023, when a computer system malfunction forced the FAA to temporarily halt domestic departures. Before 2023, the previous nationwide ground stop occurred during the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.
Federal officials continue investigating the communications failure that prompted Friday’s emergency action.
ArkansasRadio.com will continue following developments involving the FAA, airline operations and travel disruptions affecting Arkansas passengers.
Sources: Reuters, Associated Press, Axios, KATV and the FAA. Flight delay and cancellation figures reflect Friday evening reports and are subject to change.
Earlier Report: FAA Orders Nationwide Ground Stop
The Federal Aviation Administration ordered a rare nationwide ground stop Friday afternoon after communication problems hit air traffic control centers across the country. The order halted departing flights at every U.S. airport, including Clinton National Airport in Little Rock.
The ground stop took effect at 2:54 p.m. Central time Friday, November 13, 2026.
An advisory from the FAA’s Air Traffic Control System Command Center cited “extraordinary circumstances” and “reasons of safety.” It said all departing traffic should remain ground stopped until further notice and that inbound international flights will be managed on a case-by-case basis.
What Caused the Ground Stop
The FAA said the ground stop followed communication issues impacting multiple Air Route Traffic Control Centers. Those centers mostly handle high-altitude traffic traveling between airports.
U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy later said on X that the communication issue was impacting all Air Route Traffic Control Centers.
“FAA technicians are investigating the issue,” Duffy said.
The FAA has not said what caused the communication problem. Preliminary reports indicate it was not a cyberattack, according to 2 law enforcement officials cited by CNN.
As of late Friday afternoon, the FAA had not said when departures would resume.
Earlier Friday afternoon, the FAA issued ground stops at both of Chicago’s major airports, O’Hare International and Midway International, because of an equipment outage.
What It Means for Travelers
Planes already in the air are being allowed to continue to their destinations and land. Departing flights are being held on the ground.
United Airlines said its flights already in the air will continue, but new domestic flights will not depart while the FAA ground stop remains in place.
At Clinton National Airport in Little Rock, the airport’s flight status showed delays on flights to Dallas, Dallas-Fort Worth, Atlanta, Charlotte and New York, KATV reported.
Even after the ground stop is lifted, delays and cancellations could continue as airlines work to get planes and crews back in position.
Travelers should check their flight status with their airline before heading to the airport. The FAA posts live airport status updates at nasstatus.faa.gov.
Only the 2nd Since 9/11
Nationwide ground stops are extremely rare. This is only the 2nd nationwide ground stop since the September 11, 2001, attacks.
The last one happened January 11, 2023, when the FAA system that sends safety notices to pilots failed. That outage led to more than 10,000 flight delays and more than 1,300 cancellations nationwide.
This is a developing story.
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