US flights grounded LIVE updates: FAA stops all departing flights citing “extraordinary circumstances”, Homeland Security secretary denies cyber attack, says ‘this is not another 9/11’

Kayla OlayaUpdated November 14, 2026 — 9:39am,first published 9:13amKey PostsWhat we know so farBy Hannah HammoudA nationwide ground stop has been issued for all US flights due to serious air traffic control communication issues. Here is what we know so far:Flights in the air are permitted to land, but departures have been halted.Secretary of Homeland Security Markwayne Mullin said government officials did not suspect foul play and there “was no indication as of yet that this was a nefarious attack”.US Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said the Federal Aviation Administration issued the order following a system-wide Air Route Traffic Control Centre failure. “FAA technicians are investigating the issue. We will provide immediate updates as we have them,” he said in an X post.The last time all flights in the US were grounded was in 2023. Prior to that, it was on September 11, 2001.Latest Posts9.39amNearly 7000 flights delayed, cancelledBy Hannah HammoudWhile the FAA has not released an exact count of grounded aircraft, Reuters reports that nearly 7000 flights across the United States have been delayed or cancelled due to the nationwide ground stop.Airlines for America, the industry trade association representing US airlines, said it was currently in close communication with the FAA and the US Department of Transportation.“Safety is always our top priority,” it said.“We appreciate the patience of the travelling public and the dedication of frontline employees who are navigating this situation. Impacted travellers are encouraged to be in touch with their carrier for real-time updates.”9.22am‘This isn’t another 9/11’: Homeland Security SecretaryBy Michael KoziolHomeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin told reporters at the White House that a telecommunications outage triggered the ground stop, and there was no suggestion at this stage that the problem was caused by a cyberattack.“There is no indication, and we had no reason to believe as of right now, that this was a threat to the United States,” he said. “[But] we’re not ruling out anything at this point.” Mullin said he saw no reason to connect Friday’s telecommunications issue with the outrage that affected Microsoft systems around the world the previous day.“We are assured that everybody is safe. Everybody that is in the air ... we’re going to get you on the ground. There’s no reason for the public to be afraid or scared for their loved ones. This isn’t another 9/11.”9.19amNo current indication of foul play: US Homeland SecurityBy Hannah HammoudThe Department of Homeland Security said there is currently no indication that the communication failure that triggered the nationwide ground stop of flights in the United States was caused by foul play.With AP9.08amWhen was the last time all US flights were grounded?By Kayla OlayaSaturday’s rare ground stop of all flights across the United States is only the third time in US history that a nationwide grounding has been ordered.The first was during the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, and the other was in 2023 when the FAA’s Notice to Air Missions system failed.People wait at a terminal at a Washington airport.AP Photo/Tom BrennerWhat we know so farBy Hannah HammoudA nationwide ground stop has been issued for all US flights due to serious air traffic control communication issues. Here is what we know so far:Flights in the air are permitted to land, but departures have been halted.Secretary of Homeland Security Markwayne Mullin said government officials did not suspect foul play and there “was no indication as of yet that this was a nefarious attack”.US Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said the Federal Aviation Administration issued the order following a system-wide Air Route Traffic Control Centre failure. “FAA technicians are investigating the issue. We will provide immediate updates as we have them,” he said in an X post.The last time all flights in the US were grounded was in 2023. Prior to that, it was on September 11, 2001.9.02amWelcome to our coverageBy Kayla OlayaWelcome to our coverage of the nationwide flight ground stop in the United States.Earlier today (Saturday morning AEDT), a ground stop was issued for all flights across the United States due to “extraordinary circumstances and reasons for safety” after authorities reported serious air traffic control communications issues.This means all in-air flights may land, but flights on the ground cannot take off. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued a nationwide ground stop for all US airports following a communication issue impacting all Air Route Traffic Control Centres, US Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy saidWe will keep you updated throughout the day.A board shows delayed flights at Los Angeles International Airport.AP Photo/Ethan Swope1 of 1