US Halts Takeoffs Nationwide After Air Traffic Control Communications Failure
The Federal Aviation Administration ordered all flights awaiting takeoff across the US to remain on the ground on November 13 until further notice. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said technicians were investigating a communications failure affecting regional air traffic control centers. International flights arriving in the US will be handled case by case.
The Federal Aviation Administration issued a nationwide takeoff halt on the afternoon of November 13, citing “special circumstances” and safety concerns. It ordered all flights awaiting departure to remain on the ground until further notice. International flights arriving in the US will be handled case by case. The notice provided no further details.
Passengers at John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York, US.（VietVance）
US Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said on social media that the Federal Aviation Administration had ordered all takeoffs nationwide to halt after a communications failure affected the system of regional air traffic control centers. The agency’s technicians are investigating the failure. Regional air traffic control centers coordinate flights across the US.
The last nationwide takeoff halt in the US was issued in January 2023, when the system that provides notices to pilots malfunctioned. After the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, the US also suspended civil aviation nationwide and required aircraft already in the air to land at nearby airports capable of receiving them.
In recent years, the Federal Aviation Administration has repeatedly dealt with disruptions at air traffic control facilities caused by aging equipment and has pursued a large-scale system overhaul. Since 2025, the Trump administration has pushed to upgrade the national air traffic system. This week, the White House asked Congress to allocate $30 billion for the project.
Source: VietVance
