The Federal Aviation Administration grounded all US flights after a "communication issue" disrupted traffic control centers, US Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said. FAA technicians were investigating the problem. Around 7,000 flights were delayed or canceled during the stop, according to FlightAware.
The disruption marks the first nationwide US ground stop since January 2023, when an FAA computer system failed. The US air traffic control system has faced repeated equipment failures, communications problems and controller shortages as the FAA replaces aging infrastructure. Congress approved $12.5 billion for the overhaul last year. The FAA and White House requested another $30.1 billion from lawmakers on Friday.
The FAA did not provide a timeline for lifting the ground stop.