FAA Calls Nationwide Flight Halt Over Communication Glitch

The Federal Aviation Administration ordered a nationwide ground stop on Friday afternoon after communication and radar problems hit multiple Air Route Traffic Control Centers. Technicians are now investigating the fault, which was first reported in an internal Alaska Airlines message that described the same communication and radar failures. Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin told reporters at the White House that there is no sign the problems pose a threat to the United States. Airlines with planes already in the air, such as United and American, were allowed to continue flying, and United said it will help passengers reach their destinations once the stop is lifted. A ground stop means aircraft cannot take off, and if it lasts long crews may hit their daily duty‑time limits, causing further delays. There were about 11,000 scheduled departures after 4 p.m. Eastern Time, according to flight‑data firm Cirium. Nationwide stops are rare; the last one occurred in January 2023 over a pilot‑alert system glitch, and before that the only other all‑U.S. halt followed the September 11 attacks. Inbound international arrivals will be handled individually, the FAA added.

Context

Ground stops are a safety tool the FAA uses when system failures could affect aircraft separation. By grounding departures, the agency prevents more planes from entering a strained network while it fixes the problem. Such measures, though disruptive, help keep the overall air‑travel system safe.