WASHINGTON: US aviation authorities on Friday ordered a nationwide flight ground stop, suspending all departing flights across the country after a telecommunications failure disrupted operations at all 22 regional Air Route Traffic Control Centres, causing widespread travel chaos and raising concerns about the reliability of the country’s ageing aviation infrastructure.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said the precautionary measure was necessary after a temporary communications outage affected air traffic control operations. Technicians were investigating the failure, while incoming international flights were being handled on a case-by-case basis.
Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin said there was no immediate indication that the incident was a deliberate attack or posed a national security threat. However, he added that investigators were not ruling out the possibility of a cyberattack.
“There was no indication, as of yet, that this was a nefarious attack against us; it’s just a telecommunications outage, as of right now,” Mullin told reporters at the White House after meeting President Donald Trump.
He also rejected comparisons with the September 11 attacks, stressing that authorities had accounted for all flights. Mullin cautioned that restoring normal operations could take time.
US Nationwide Flight Ground Stop Leaves Thousands of Passengers Stranded
The nationwide flight ground stop triggered widespread disruption at airports across the United States, leaving thousands of passengers stranded and causing significant delays and cancellations.
According to flight-tracking service FlightAware, nearly 7,000 flights had been delayed or cancelled as the disruption continued on Friday.
Major airlines, including United Airlines and American Airlines, warned passengers about operational difficulties. Some travellers were left waiting aboard aircraft, while others were asked to return to departure gates.
The FAA said its safety measures were aimed at ensuring that aircraft movements remained accounted for and that flights could reach their destinations safely.
Possible Cyberattack Not Ruled Out
Asked whether a cyberattack could be responsible for the communications failure, Mullin said authorities were investigating all possibilities.
He also dismissed any connection between the incident and a major global Microsoft outage, describing the two events as separate issues.
The disruption marked the first nationwide flight ground stop since January 2023, when the FAA suspended departures following a computer failure affecting its Notice to Air Missions (NOTAM) system. That incident lasted just under two hours.
US Aviation Infrastructure Faces Renewed Scrutiny
The communications failure has renewed concerns over the ageing US air traffic control infrastructure and the urgent need for modernisation.
The incident occurred a day after Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy requested $30.1 billion from Congress to upgrade the country’s air traffic control system.
In a letter to lawmakers, Duffy and Office of Management and Budget Director Russell Vought described the investment as essential to strengthening telecommunications networks, modernising aviation technology and upgrading control towers and airport infrastructure.
Congress had already approved $12.5 billion last year for improvements to the FAA’s communications infrastructure, including replacing outdated equipment.
Also Read: US Nationwide Flight Ground Stop Disrupts Air Travel After Air Traffic Communications Failure
The precise cause of Friday’s nationwide disruption remained unclear, with authorities continuing to investigate whether it resulted from a technical malfunction or another issue.
