FAA grounds all departing flights in the United States due to communication failures

On November 13, 2026, the United States Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued an urgent directive grounding all departing flights across the country. This unprecedented decision was triggered by reports of severe communication failures within air traffic control services, which initially caused disruptions in the Chicago area before expanding nationwide.

Under the current mandate, all aircraft scheduled for departure must remain on the ground until further notice. International flights currently en route to the U.S. are being evaluated on a case-by-case basis rather than being subject to an immediate blanket ban. While official sources cite "emergency circumstances" and safety concerns as the primary drivers, initial reports have linked the chaos to technical malfunctions in communication systems. Aviation authorities are currently managing the situation, and the duration of the grounding remains uncertain as technical teams work to address the underlying infrastructure issues. There is no confirmed timeline for the resumption of normal operations at this stage.