FAA Grounds Flights Nationwide Due to Communications Outage
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) halted all flights nationwide on Friday afternoon, including at El Paso International Airport, due to communications problems affecting regional air traffic control centers. The ground stop was implemented for safety reasons, impacting departing flights while…
El Paso, TX, November 13, 2026 — The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) implemented a nationwide ground stop on Friday afternoon, affecting flights across the United States. This measure was put in place due to communication problems impacting regional air traffic control centers.
The halt in operations, which commenced on Friday afternoon, was a precautionary measure taken for safety reasons. The FAA’s decision meant that no new flights were permitted to depart from airports nationwide. However, aircraft that were already in the air were allowed to continue their journeys and proceed to their intended destinations for landing.
The issue stemmed from communications system failures that affected regional air traffic control facilities. Specific details regarding the nature of the communication problems were not immediately available.
The nationwide ground stop had a direct impact on air travel at various airports, including El Paso International Airport. Passengers experienced delays and cancellations as a result of the system-wide disruption. The duration of the ground stop was not specified at the time of the announcement, leaving travelers uncertain about when normal operations would resume.
The FAA stated that its primary concern was ensuring the safety of air travel. The agency worked to resolve the communication issues affecting the air traffic control centers. Further information about the timeline for restoring full operational capacity was pending.
Story summarized from the original created by Associated Press,El Paso Matters Staff on elpasomatters.org, see more information here.
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