What Is an FAA Ground Stop? Explained in Plain English

A ground stop sounds dramatic, but it is a normal safety tool. Here is how it works and why the November 13, 2026 one covered the whole country.

1. What it is

An FAA order that holds flights at their departure airports until the problem clears.

2. Planes already flying

They keep going to their destination, or divert to another airport if needed.

3. The usual kind

Most ground stops cover a single airport for thunderstorms, snow, a runway closure or an equipment problem, and last under an hour or two.

4. Why Nov 13 was different

The Air Route Traffic Control Centers, which guide planes at cruising altitude between airports, had communications problems. Without reliable radio contact, controllers can't safely take more planes.

5. How rare it is

It was only the third national ground stop in US history, after 9/11 and the January 2023 NOTAM system failure.

Sources

ABC News (FlightAware data), Wikipedia: 2026 FAA communication outage, November 13, 2026.

FAQ

Is a ground stop the same as a cancellation?

No. Flights are held, not canceled, though long stops lead to cancellations.

Who decides?

The FAA's Air Traffic Control System Command Center.