The FAA ordered US domestic departures to stop on 13 November after a communication problem affected all en-route air-traffic-control centres, according to US Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy. The order illustrates how quickly a communications failure can become a nationwide aviation restriction: controllers need dependable contact with pilots before aircraft can safely depart.
The FAA notice, as reported by Le Figaro, instructed all departing traffic to remain on the ground until further notice. International arrivals were to be handled case by case. United Airlines said flights already airborne would continue, while no new flights would leave for as long as the ground stop remained in place.
The disruption was already extensive. FlightAware reported nearly 7,000 flights delayed or cancelled, with about 30,000 departures and arrivals scheduled for the rest of Friday when the notice was issued. That makes the order more than a local airport delay: it interrupts the system that allows aircraft and crews to continue their rotations across the country.
FAA technicians were investigating the communications issue. The supplied reporting does not identify its technical cause or give a timetable for a nationwide restart. Le Figaro also reported that CNN, citing sources close to the matter, said a cyberattack had been ruled out at that point. That report does not establish what caused the failure.
The available material does not specify the effect on flights to or from France. Canada’s aviation regulator said the incident was not affecting its operations at the time. The immediate test for the FAA is whether it can restore communications reliable enough to lift a restriction whose effects spread rapidly through airlines, crews and passenger itineraries.
Sources
- Le Figaro Actualités · Source date: 2026-11-13
- BFMTV Actualités · Source date: 2026-11-13
Independent editorial content. WUA is not affiliated with any political party. 2026-11-13