US flights grounded LIVE updates: FAA stops all departing flights citing ‘extraordinary circumstances’, air traffic control issues

Welcome to our coverage

By Kayla Olaya

Welcome to our coverage of the nationwide flight ground stop in the United States.

Earlier today (Saturday morning AEDT), a ground stop was issue for all flights across the United States due to “extraordinary circumstances and reasons for safety” after authorities reported serious air traffic control communications issues.

This means all in-air flights may land, but flights on the ground cannot take off. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued a nationwide ground stop for all US airports following a communication issue impacting all Air Route Traffic Control Centres, US Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said

We will keep you updated with our rolling throughout the day.

Latest Posts

When was the last time all US flights were grounded?

By Kayla Olaya

Saturday’s rare ground stop of all flights across the United States is only the third time in US history that a nationwide ground stop has been ordered.

The first was during the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, and the other was in 2023 when the FAA’s Notice to Air Missions system failed.

What we know so far

By Hannah Hammoud

A nationwide ground stop has been issued for all US flights due to serious air traffic control communication issues.

Flights in the air are permitted to land, but departures have been halted. US Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said the Federal Aviation Administration issued the order following a system-wide Air Route Traffic Control Centre failure.

“FAA technicians are investigating the issue. We will provide immediate updates as we have them,” he said in an X post.

The cause of the system failure has not been specified.

Pinned post from 9.02am

Welcome to our coverage

By Kayla Olaya

Welcome to our coverage of the nationwide flight ground stop in the United States.

Earlier today (Saturday morning AEDT), a ground stop was issue for all flights across the United States due to “extraordinary circumstances and reasons for safety” after authorities reported serious air traffic control communications issues.

This means all in-air flights may land, but flights on the ground cannot take off. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued a nationwide ground stop for all US airports following a communication issue impacting all Air Route Traffic Control Centres, US Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said

We will keep you updated with our rolling throughout the day.

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