US Flights Resume After Four-Hour Suspension Due to Communication Issue

On November 13, 2026, the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) suspended all flights nationwide for four hours due to a communication issue impacting all Air Route Traffic Control Centers. The issue began around 16:00, causing irregularities in radar and communication systems. As a precautionary measure, the FAA declared a ground stop for all US airports at 17:00. Flights gradually resumed around 20:15.

The communication issue was attributed to outdated telecommunications systems that became overloaded and irregular. US Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy explained that the entire system had to be shut down due to the problem. The FAA emphasized that the suspension was not related to a security threat or a cyberattack. The issue affected all US air traffic control centers, causing widespread disruptions.

The suspension had a significant impact on flights, with hundreds of aircraft in US airspace at the time. Most planes were able to continue to their destinations and land safely. However, flights departing from the US were severely affected, with many cancellations and delays. Air Canada canceled all its flights to the US on the evening of November 13.

The Montreal-Trudeau airport was also affected, with 40 flights impacted, including 24 departures and 16 arrivals. No aircraft were diverted to the Montreal airport, and employees were on site to assist travelers. The airport advised passengers to check their flight schedules with their airlines.

US Secretary of Homeland Security Markwayne Mullin assured the public that all travelers were safe and accounted for. He also stated that the issue was not related to a cyberattack or the previous day's Microsoft outage. The FAA and the Department of Transportation are investigating the cause of the issue.

The incident highlighted the need for modernization of the US air traffic control system. Secretary Duffy stated that nearly $50 billion is needed to upgrade the aging system, which has not been adequately funded. The FAA had recently implemented a new system called SMART, which uses artificial intelligence to centralize data. However, the agency emphasized that the current issue was not caused by this new system.

The US government received assistance from Canada during the flight suspension. Canadian Transport Minister Steven MacKinnon stated that Canada offered to accommodate flights bound for the US if needed. This incident is one of only a few nationwide ground stops in the past 25 years, with previous instances occurring after the 9/11 attacks and in January 2023 due to a pilot alert system failure.

Key points

• The FAA suspended all US flights for four hours due to a communication issue affecting all air traffic control centers.
• The issue was caused by outdated telecommunications systems and not related to a security threat or cyberattack.
• The incident highlighted the need for modernization of the US air traffic control system, with a required investment of nearly $50 billion.