Hear How Air Traffic Controllers Grappled With the Ground Stoppage Chaos

AdvertisementSKIP ADVERTISEMENTRadio conversations gave a glimpse of how air traffic controllers handled the stoppage of air travel across the United States.Nov. 13, 2026, 10:06 p.m. ETRadio transmissions between active pilots and air traffic controllers at major airports offer a peek at how they navigated the Federal Aviation Administration’s nationwide ground stoppage on Friday.An air traffic controller at Newark Liberty International Airport can be heard sharing the news with pilots.Minutes later, at airports in Atlanta and Chicago, controllers said they had limited information.As planes landed over the next hour and departures were stuck at their gates, air traffic controllers can be heard talking about significant gate issues and comparing the tarmac to a “parking lot.”Amid the chaos, one pilot noted the date while talking to a Newark controller: “It’s not lost on me that it’s Friday the 13th.”Alexander Cardia is a graphics editor and animator with the Visual Investigations team.Neil Bedi is a reporter on the Visual Investigations team at The Times, which combines traditional reporting and digital forensic techniques to deconstruct important news events.Robin Stein is a reporter on the Visual Investigations team at The Times, which combines traditional reporting with advanced digital forensics.Related ContentAdvertisementSKIP ADVERTISEMENT