# FAA grounds all flights at U.S. airports due to air traffic control communications problems > HelixNews · Web page: https://helixnews.one/story/3629274 · All pages for agents: https://helixnews.one/llms.txt 15 outlets covering · First listed: PBS NewsHour, Nov 13, 2026, 3:41 PM · Read it: The nation's top homeland security official attributed the problem to a telecommunications outage and said there was no indication yet of a nefarious act. AI summary (may contain mistakes): A nationwide FAA ground stop on Friday, which the FAA said was caused by a telecommunications outage, was later lifted. Air Space Intelligence denied that its SMART tool was linked to the ground stop, The Hill reported. The grounding disrupted travel plans for college and NFL teams, including Texas, Arizona State and Ole Miss. ## Who's covering it In the order they published: - Nov 12, 2026, 7:12 PM: [The FAA Is Rolling Out Its AI Air Traffic Tool Nationwide]() — Gizmodo (Digital news, United States) The FAA has reassured the public and airlines that SMART only suggests routes and doesn't affect air safety. - Nov 13, 2026, 5:09 AM: [Flights grounded at all US airports due to air traffic control ‘communication issue’, transport secretary says – live]() — Guardian (Newspaper, United Kingdom, rated Lean left) Sean Duffy says technicians from Federal Aviation Administration are investigating the issueSign up for the Breaking News US emailIn other tech-related news, the Microsoft outage is still going. The longest in the company’s history. My colleagues are covering the latest and how it’s affecting millions and pretty much every industry …As I noted earlier, the calls for Howard Lutnick to appear before lawmakers on Capitol Hill have been answered. - Nov 13, 2026, 3:06 PM: [FAA imposes nationwide ground stop on all flights]() — Washington Examiner (Magazine, United States, rated Lean right) The Federal Aviation Administration halted all flight departures nationwide Friday afternoon due to a “rolling frequency outage” affecting facilities that monitor planes in the air. The cause remained unclear Friday, and Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin said Friday evening that investigators were looking into it, but suggested that a telecommunications issue caused the disruption. AIR - Nov 13, 2026, 3:06 PM: [All US airports are currently ground stopped]() — Hacker News (Aggregator, United States) - Nov 13, 2026, 3:35 PM: [The FAA lifts its over four-hour nationwide ground stop for US airports caused by "communication issues affecting multiple Air Route Traffic Control Centers" (Alex Fitzpatrick/Axios)]() — Techmeme (Aggregator, United States) - Nov 13, 2026, 3:41 PM: [FAA grounds all flights at U.S. airports due to air traffic control communications problems]() — PBS NewsHour (Public broadcaster, United States, rated Lean left) The nation's top homeland security official attributed the problem to a telecommunications outage and said there was no indication yet of a nefarious act. - Nov 13, 2026, 4:14 PM: [FAA grounds all flights across the U.S. due to air traffic control communications problems]() — AP (Wire service, United States, rated Center) - Nov 13, 2026, 4:16 PM: [FAA grounds all flights in the U.S. until further notice: Reports cite air traffic control outage]() — Fast Company (Magazine, United States) - Nov 13, 2026, 4:42 PM: [All US flights grounded by FAA]() — The Register (Digital news, United Kingdom) Safety reasons and unspecified communications issue cited - Nov 13, 2026, 4:44 PM: [FAA launched new AI ‘SMART’ tool to all air route traffic control centers just days before nationwide ground stop]() — NY Post (Newspaper, United States, rated Lean right) A new AI-supported air traffic system was rolled out to all of FAA’s control centers three days before an extremely rare ground stop halted planes across the US Friday, according to the agency. - Nov 13, 2026, 5:08 PM: [Photos show trouble at airports nationwide as FAA grounds all flights]() — Business Insider (Digital news, United States, rated Lean left) Passengers are being deplaned and flights are delayed after the FAA grounded all planes nationwide because of "extraordinary circumstances." - Nov 13, 2026, 6:00 PM: [FAA grounds all U.S. flights days after expanding its AI air traffic system]() — Scientific American (Magazine, United States) National ground stops of this kind are exceedingly rare - Nov 13, 2026, 7:46 PM: [The FAA Nationwide Ground Stop Is Over]() — Wired (Magazine, United States) The five-hour ordeal ended Friday evening. Planes will be allowed to fly again, but the effects of the stoppage will be felt throughout the weekend. - Nov 13, 2026, 8:42 PM: [Nationwide Ground Stop At Airports Lifted, FAA Says]() — Forbes (Magazine, United States, rated Center) Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said the ground stop was ordered following a "communication issue” impacting all air traffic control centers. - Nov 13, 2026, 9:32 PM: [FAA ground stop lifted: Why were US flights grounded, and what’s next?]() — Al Jazeera (TV network, Qatar, rated Lean left) The FAA says nationwide ground stop disrupting thousands of US flights was caused by a telecommunications outage.