The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) on Friday, November 13, 2026, took the rare step of ordering a nationwide ground stop for all outbound flights. The decision followed reports of major disruptions to air traffic control communications systems and was attributed to “extraordinary circumstances and safety considerations.”

According to Reuters, the US Air Traffic Control System Command Center issued an emergency notice instructing all airlines and airports to prevent aircraft from taking off until further notice. International flights bound for the US will also be assessed and managed on a case-by-case basis.

The order was issued at about 20:54 GMT on Friday. Shortly beforehand, the FAA had halted flights in Chicago because of communications problems affecting air traffic control systems. Reports also indicated equipment outages at Chicago O’Hare, Chicago Midway and Newark airports.

However, US aviation authorities have yet to explain the exact cause of the disruptions or whether they are linked to the decision to impose the nationwide ground stop. It also remains unclear how many flights and passengers have been affected.

The order applies to aircraft departures and does not require all aircraft already in flight to land immediately. A nationwide ground stop for outbound flights from US airports is considered extremely rare in the country’s aviation system.

At the time of publication, no confirmed official report had been issued on the ultimate cause of the disruption or the nationwide lifting of the restrictions.