FAA Issues Extremely Rare NATIONWIDE Ground Stop For All Flights ‘Due To Extraordinary Circumstances’

UPDATE 3:20 P.M. PST:

Sources tell CNN that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin have both been “in and out of the West Wing” since the news broke, and that Hegseth has been seen in the Situation Room.

UPDATE 3:13 P.M. PST: 

At around 2:55 p.m. pst, CNN reported their airline sources told them the FAA “doesn’t know yet what is going on” because “it is affecting different facilities in different ways.” Their source also told them, “ten minutes ago, they were on a crisis call and there was still no clear answer as to a cause.”

___________

Whoa.

Per a statement from the Federal Aviation Administration, all flights in the United States have been grounded until further notice “due to extraordinary circumstances and for reasons of safety.”

Issued by the FAA just moments ago, ALL US airports are currently ground stopped. This means NO flights may depart for US airports. Flights already in the air will be allowed to land. This is related to an FAA equipment outage. pic.twitter.com/wgyuOXeF0k

— Flightradar24 (@flightradar24) November 13, 2026

That means no departing flights are allowed to take off.

The FAA has ordered a nationwide ground stop for the first time since 9/11. The announcement can be heard in Air Traffic Control audio from officials at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. https://t.co/otzpDOtmFI https://t.co/sFVNjElbUi

— CBS News (@CBSNews) November 13, 2026

The reason is not yet known, though CNN reports that “FBI personnel across the country are continuing to monitor the situation.” Reports indicate flights could be grounded for days.

Road Rules reality TV alum and U.S. transportation secretary Sean Duffy, who was nominated by President Donald Trump in 2024, issued the following statement on X (Twitter):

“The @FAAnews issued a nationwide ground stop for all U.S. airports following a communication issue impacting all Air Route Traffic Control Centers. FAA technicians are investigating the issue. We will provide immediate updates as we have them.”

Law enforcement sources say this is not due to a cyber attack. At 2:02 p.m. pst, the FAA tweeted

“There has been a temporary telecommunications outage – out of an abundance of caution all flights have been halted. Every flight has been accounted for and international flights will be handled on a case by case basis.”

Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin says there is no current estimate on when flights will be back up, but he also assures there is “no indication” of a threat to the United States.

[Image via PerezHilton.com]