US FAA issues nationwide ground stop following 'communication issue'

A woman walks past a flight information display board at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport in Arlington, Virginia, the United States, Nov. 13, 2026. The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued a nationwide ground stop on Friday following a "communication issue impacting all Air Route Traffic Control Centers," U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said. (Photo: Xinhua)

WASHINGTON, Nov. 13 (Xinhua) -- The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued a nationwide ground stop on Friday following a "communication issue impacting all Air Route Traffic Control Centers," U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said.

"FAA technicians are investigating the issue," Duffy wrote in a post on the social media platform X.

U.S. media reported earlier that the FAA had issued an advisory citing "extraordinary circumstances" and "reasons of safety" as grounds for the nationwide ground stop, describing it as a rare move.

"All departing traffic should remain ground stopped until further notice," the advisory said. "Inbound international flights will be managed on a case by case basis."

People check on a flight information display board at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport in Arlington, Virginia, the United States, Nov. 13, 2026. The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued a nationwide ground stop on Friday following a "communication issue impacting all Air Route Traffic Control Centers," U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said. (Xinhua/Li Rui)

Airplanes are seen at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport in Arlington, Virginia, the United States, Nov. 13, 2026. The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued a nationwide ground stop on Friday following a "communication issue impacting all Air Route Traffic Control Centers," U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said. (Xinhua/Li Rui)