U.S. flights resume after nationwide shutdown disrupts nearly 15,000 flights

ASM, Philippine Canadian Inquirer
November 15, 2026

Flights have resumed across the United States after a major air traffic control communications failure forced authorities to halt departures nationwide, leaving thousands of passengers stranded and airlines struggling to restore normal schedules.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) lifted its nationwide ground stop on November 13 after the disruption affected communications at multiple air traffic control centers.

The shutdown lasted more than four hours, preventing departures at airports across the country. Airlines also faced restrictions on incoming international flights as aviation officials worked to restore communications.

Nearly 15,000 flights had been delayed or cancelled by Friday evening, according to flight-tracking figures. At least 600 flights were diverted.

Passengers faced long waits, missed connections and unexpected travel changes as airlines attempted to reposition aircraft and flight crews.

Although flights were cleared to depart again, officials warned that delays and cancellations could continue as airlines recover from the disruption.

What caused the shutdown?

The FAA said the ground stop followed communications problems affecting several regional air traffic control centers.

Federal officials later identified problems involving an overloaded, aging communications system.

Authorities said there was no evidence that a cyberattack caused the disruption. The failure was also not attributed to the FAA’s newer artificial intelligence technology.

The shutdown raised renewed concerns about the reliability of U.S. air traffic control infrastructure.

Federal transportation officials have called for additional funding to replace outdated equipment and improve the resilience of the country’s aviation network.

Travelers face continuing delays

Airlines began resuming departures after the FAA confirmed that affected systems had been tested and flights could proceed safely.

However, lifting the ground stop did not immediately restore normal operations.

Aircraft and crews were left out of position, while cancelled flights created backlogs of passengers needing new bookings.

Travelers with upcoming flights have been advised to check directly with their airlines before going to the airport.

Officials expect the effects of the shutdown to continue beyond the initial outage as airlines work through disrupted schedules.