Berliner Tageblatt - FAA Grounds All US Flights Amid Nationwide Air Traffic Control Communication Failure

The Federal Aviation Administration ordered an immediate halt to all commercial takeoffs across the United States on Friday afternoon, citing extraordinary circumstances and safety concerns. The directive follows widespread reports of radio frequency failures affecting critical air traffic control centers in major hubs including Boston, Chicago, and New York.

In a statement released Friday, the agency confirmed that flights already airborne would be allowed to land, but no new departures were permitted. The FAA did not provide further technical details regarding the scope of the communication failure or an estimated timeline for resumption of normal operations.

US Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy addressed the situation via X, stating that the ground stop was directly related to a communication issue impacting Air Traffic Control Centers. The agency did not immediately respond to requests for additional comment.

Nationwide ground stops are exceptionally rare in US aviation history. The last instance occurred on September 11, 2001, when all air traffic was halted following terrorist attacks. A previous nationwide stop was issued in January 2023 after a failure in the Notice to Air Missions (NOTAM) system, which distributes real-time data and warnings to pilots.

At San Francisco International Airport, the sudden order compounded existing disruptions caused by high winds. Travelers gathered in large numbers at terminals to speak with airline staff. A United Airlines employee announced over the intercom at Terminal 3 near the E departure gates that the FAA had issued a nationwide ground stop, describing it as a "nationwide event."

The situation remains fluid as officials assess the extent of the technical failure.

J.Bergmann--BTB