NEW YORK (BLOOMBERG) -- The US issued an order to halt flights nationwide on Friday, with Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy citing a communication issue affecting all air route traffic control centers.
The Federal Aviation Administration said in an advisory notice on its website that the ground stop affects all airports and departing flights should remain grounded until further notice. It cited “extraordinary circumstances” and “reasons of safety.”
“FAA technicians are investigating the issue,” Duffy said in a social media post. “We will provide immediate updates as we have them.”
The sweeping action recalls a brief nationwide halt in January 2023 due to problems with the FAA’s safety notification system, and following the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks in 2001.
The FAA has been dealing with outages across its air traffic facilities in recent years due to outdated equipment. The agency has embarked on a massive overhaul effort to address the problems.
President Donald Trump’s administration has been working since 2025 to upgrade the nation’s air traffic control system through an ambitious, expensive proposal spearheaded by Duffy. The administration this week asked Congress for $30 billion in funding for the project.
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