FAA lifts nationwide ground stop but flight disruptions persist

The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration announced on Friday that it had lifted a nationwide ground stop imposed after a communications failure disrupted air traffic control centres across the country. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said the stop, which began at 3:36 p.m. when radar and communications systems became unstable, would be followed by a gradual restoration of flights.

"I want Congress to give us emergency funding," Duffy said, urging lawmakers to support rebuilding the aging air-traffic control infrastructure.

Airports in Canada reported widespread impacts. Toronto Pearson said there were no scheduled U.S.-bound departures or arrivals, while Vancouver International noted delays for U.S.-bound flights and some international services. Edmonton International indicated seven U.S.-bound flights might be affected, and Montreal-Trudeau confirmed all flights to and from the United States were suspended until further notice. Other Canadian airports reported similar hold-ups or cancellations.

Air Canada and Porter Airlines said flights to the Caribbean, South America, Mexico and other destinations that cross U.S. airspace were also grounded. A spokesperson for Air Canada added that any aircraft already airborne were permitted to continue.

The Department of Homeland Security said there was no evidence the outage resulted from a cyberattack. Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin told reporters that the incident appeared to be a telecommunications issue and that President Donald Trump had been briefed.

"There is no indication as of yet that this was a nefarious attack against us. It’s just a telecommunication outage as of right now," Mullin said.

Mullin also noted that the agency was reviewing all possible causes, including a new AI-powered air-traffic control system, though Air Space Intel, the company behind the AI system, denied any link to the ground stop.

The disruption highlights ongoing strain on the U.S. air-traffic control system, which has faced equipment failures, communication problems and staffing shortages. Congress approved $12.5 billion for an overhaul last year, and the FAA and the White House are seeking an additional $30.1 billion.

The FAA previously halted traffic in Chicago and has indicated that international flights will be managed on a case-by-case basis as the situation evolves.