FAA issues nationwide ground stop for all flights
CNN • • business
Key Points:
- The FAA issued a nationwide ground stop due to a temporary telecommunications outage affecting Air Route Traffic Control Centers, halting all flights on the ground while allowing those already in the air to continue.
- American Airlines and other carriers expect disruptions for the rest of the day, with American Airlines mobilizing staff to resume operations once the ground stop is lifted.
- Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin confirmed there is no current evidence of a national security threat or connection to the recent global Microsoft outage, though he did not rule out any cause, including a cyberattack.
- The last nationwide ground stop occurred in January 2023 due to a NOTAM system failure, with the previous one dating back to post-9/11; the current outage has led some air traffic control facilities to declare "ATC Zero," meaning no air traffic control services are available.
- Passengers at major airports like Chicago O’Hare and Newark Liberty are experiencing delays and cancellations, though the atmosphere remains relatively calm, with some airlines offering accommodations such as meal vouchers.
