FAA Ground Stop nationwide reason: Why are all flights across U.S grounded first time since 9/11-September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks? United Airlines, American Airlines say when will operations resume

FAA ground stop has been imposed as all flights across the U.S have been grounded by the Federal Aviation Administration, multiple media outlets reported quoting an FAA notice. The decision was taken due to communications problems at regional air traffic control centers, as per reports. All flights have been accounted for and international flights will be “handled on a case by case basis,” the agency said. Passengers deboarded and the airline said no one would be rebooked for at least an hour.

United Airlines said it was responding to a nationwide ground stop issued by FAA. The airlines said United flights that are already airborne will continue but new domestic flights would not depart while the FAA ground stop remains in place. American Airlines also stated that flyers must expect disruption to the airline's flight schedule depending on the length of the FAA’s nationwide ground stop. American Airlines said that flights already in the air can continue to their destinations.

This is the first nationwide ground stop since January 2023 when a key FAA computer system malfunctioned. Before that the last time had been after the September 11, 2001 attacks. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said a communications issue was affecting the regional air traffic control centers that direct planes between airports nationwide. He said FAA technicians are investigating.


Secretary of Homeland Security Markwayne Mullin said there was no indication yet that “this was a nefarious attack against us. It’s just a telecommunications outage.” However, Mullin said grounding all flights isn’t the same as September 11. “There is no indication — and we had no reason to believe that — as of right now, that this was a threat to the United States,” Mullin said. “This was a telecommunication outage,” Mullin told reporters outside the White House.

The ground stop was being imposed “due to extraordinary circumstances and for reasons of safety,” according to the FAA notice.

FAA said that flights have been halted ‘out of an abundance of caution’. The federal agency said on social media that there has been a temporary telecommunications outage.

Former United Airlines pilot and aviation expert Steve Arroyo said the problem appeared similar to a regional air traffic control communication outage in September that snarled hundreds of flights across the Northeast, except this time on a nationwide scale. Arroyo said it could be linked to the outdated technology used by air traffic controllers.