U.S. authorities rule out cyberattack after nationwide flight ground stop

The Federal Aviation Administration ordered a total suspension of all departing flights in the United States on November 13, 2026, due to technical failures. U.S. authorities confirmed the nationwide ground stop was caused by communication system failures in air traffic control centers rather than a cyberattack or a terrorist threat. The interruption lasted several hours before the ground stop was lifted.

Technical failure during maintenance

The technical failure occurred during routine maintenance performed by L3Harris, a contractor for the Federal Aviation Administration. The maintenance work involved replacing copper wiring with fiber optics, which caused a saturation of the air traffic control system. U.S. Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy stated the issue stemmed from an obsolete air system and contractor performance. Secretary Duffy said the issue was not a cyberattack but a failure of the Federal Aviation Administration system and its contractor to meet requirements.

Federal Aviation Administration Administrator Bryan Bedford confirmed there is no evidence of malicious intent behind the telecommunications failure. Administrator Bedford clarified that the failure is not linked to a new artificial intelligence system implemented by the Federal Aviation Administration to manage weather and flight trajectories. U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Markwayne Mullin stated there is no evidence of a malicious action or sabotage. Secretary Mullin told the public not to be afraid as this is not another September 11.

Impact on flight operations

The incident caused significant delays and cancellations for flights traveling between Mexico and the United States, affecting AICM. According to Aerocivil, the incident also caused significant delays and cancellations for flights traveling between Colombia and the United States. Various organizations reported different figures regarding the scale of the disruption. FlightAware reported 4,100 canceled flights and 3,200 delays on November 15, 2026. SDP Noticias reported 1,700 cancellations and 10,500 delays. Caracol reported 1,700 cancellations and 10,000 delays.

Specific regional data from Caracol included 436 cancellations in Chicago, 417 cancellations in Dallas-Fort Worth, 392 cancellations in Denver, 384 cancellations in Atlanta, and 374 cancellations in Charlotte. Caracol also reported that Avianca allowed passengers to change travel dates on November 13 and 14.

Infrastructure and future funding

The Federal Aviation Administration had previously halted air operations in Chicago due to similar communication problems. To address infrastructure needs, the U.S. government has requested $30.1 billion from Congress to modernize aviation infrastructure. Regarding the political landscape, President Donald Trump is reportedly willing to work with Democrats, who are set to take control of Congress in January 2027.

This incident follows a previous disruption in January 2023, when U.S. air traffic was paralyzed due to a computer failure in the security advisory system. The last major air traffic disruption in United States history occurred during the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.

Glossary

• ground stop — A ground stop or ground delay is an order issued by the FAA. It can be issued for several hubs due to an equipment outage.
• L3Harris — L3Harris Technologies, Inc. is an American technology company, defense contractor, and information technology services provider. It produces products for various sectors, including command and control systems, avionics, and electronic systems.
• U.S. Secretary of Transportation — The U.S. Secretary of Transportation is a government official. The role involves addressing issues related to air systems and transportation infrastructure.
• U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security — The U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security is a government official. The role involves addressing matters related to national security and potential malicious actions.
• September 11 — September 11 refers to the 2001 terrorist attacks. It is considered a major air traffic disruption in United States history.