November 13, 2026
Reporting checked at 3:47 p.m. Central.
WASHINGTON — The Federal Aviation Administration ordered a nationwide halt to flight departures Friday after a communications problem affected air traffic control centers across the country.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said the problem affected all Air Route Traffic Control Centers. FAA technicians were investigating, he said in a statement posted on X.
An FAA advisory issued at 2:54 p.m. Central directed departing aircraft to remain on the ground until further notice, citing extraordinary circumstances and safety concerns, CBS Austin reported.
Inbound international flights were to be handled individually. Aircraft already airborne could land, Reuters reported.
Officials had not publicly identified the underlying cause of the communications problem or announced a timetable for restoring normal operations in the updates reviewed for this report.
Air Route Traffic Control Centers manage aircraft during the en route portion of their flights, according to FAA guidance. Their role connects traffic moving through large areas of controlled airspace, making communications between pilots and controllers essential to those operations.
A ground stop holds affected flights at their departure points while restrictions remain in place. The order does not, by itself, mean every affected flight has been canceled. Travelers should confirm the status of their individual flights with their airlines.
For St. Louis passengers, St. Louis Lambert International Airport’s flight-status page provides arrival and departure information. The airport advises travelers that information can change without notice and says to contact their scheduled airline or travel representative for confirmation.
VOTP News STL had not independently confirmed a Lambert-specific delay or cancellation total when this report was prepared.
Passengers with connecting itineraries should check each flight in their trip and monitor airline notifications for revised departure times, gate changes or rebooking information.
The FAA directs travelers to its National Airspace System Status website for operational updates and to their airlines for flight-specific information.
Image credit: Screenshot of Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy’s statement on X, provided to VOTP News STL.
This is a developing story.
