FAA Implements Nationwide Ground Stop Amid Communication Outages

The Federal Aviation Administration announced a nationwide ground stop, halting all takeoffs across the United States while allowing aircraft already in the air to continue their flights. The directive follows simultaneous radar and radio frequency outages that have left controllers without clear information on the cause.

United Airlines notified passengers through its app that new domestic departures were suspended, though flights already airborne would proceed. The airline said it would work with customers to reach their destinations once the issue is resolved.

Travelers at several airports reported long delays and limited communication. At Chicago O’Hare, some passengers learned of the ground stop only from news reports, while others received brief announcements and meal vouchers. Similar confusion was reported at New York’s JFK and other hubs.

Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin told CNN that officials are reviewing whether a new AI-supported air-traffic-control system contributed to the outage, but said there is no indication of a national-security threat or cyberattack. "We’re looking at that," Mullin said. "There is no indication as of yet that this was a nefarious attack against us."

The FAA’s recently launched SMART system, designed to optimize flight paths based on weather and staffing, was not identified as a cause, according to its developer ASI. The agency has not provided an estimated timeline for lifting the ground stop, and aviation correspondent Pete Muntean warned that the disruption could have a cascading effect on air travel for some time.