FAA Issues Nationwide Ground Stop Across the United States Following Major Aviation Communications Disruption

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued a nationwide ground stop on Friday, November 13, 2026, affecting airports across the United States.

The emergency measure was prompted by a major technical disruption involving aviation radio frequencies. Reports describe the issue as a “rolling frequency outage,” involving successive communication failures affecting air traffic control operations.

Reliable communication between pilots and air traffic controllers is essential for maintaining safe aircraft operations. Any disruption to these systems can create serious challenges for managing air traffic and coordinating departures.

What Happened?

Under the FAA’s emergency directive, departing aircraft were instructed to remain on the ground until further notice.

International arriving flights were to be handled on an individual basis, depending on operational conditions.

The nationwide restriction was introduced as a precautionary safety measure while aviation authorities addressed the communications problem.

Impact on Seattle and Washington State

The restrictions also affected Washington state, including Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (Sea-Tac), one of the region’s busiest transportation hubs.

Passengers scheduled to depart from Seattle should check their flight status directly with their airlines before heading to the airport.

Even after restrictions are lifted, travelers may experience additional delays, schedule changes and disruptions as airlines work through the backlog of affected flights.

When Will Flights Resume?

At the time of publication, an official timeline for lifting the nationwide ground stop had not been confirmed.

Passengers are encouraged to monitor airline notifications and FAA updates for the latest information.

All Seattle will continue monitoring the situation and provide updates as more information becomes available.