FAA grounds all US flights for nearly five hours Friday

Summarised from 2 outlets · 4 reports · Updated 14 Nov, 15:49 · Archive

The FAA grounded all US flights Friday afternoon due to communications problems at regional air traffic control centres.

The FAA issued a nationwide ground stop on Friday afternoon that halted all US flights for nearly five hours before lifting the order just before 8:00 p.m. CST. Planes were grounded at airports including Sioux Falls Regional Airport, with hundreds of flights diverted and passengers experiencing delays and cancellations.

Official cited 'extraordinary circumstances' caused by communications problems at regional air traffic control centres. Preliminary reports indicated the issue was not related to a terror attack or cyberattack. Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin said at the White House that there was no danger to the public and that getting flights and ground operations started again would take time and would not be resolved 'within the hour'.

One passenger from Rapid City said she had heard the problem may have been related to an artificial intelligence system recently deployed by the FAA, though this was not confirmed in official statements. Mullin reassured the public that all flights were accounted for and safe. The last nationwide ground stop had occurred in January 2023 after a pilot notification system went down.

How it is being reported

• Airplane departures resume; FANFare trip; Warming tempsSIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) -- Here is a look at Saturday's top stories with KELOLAND On the Go. Planes can once again take to the skies after the FAA lifted an order to ground all flights. The stoppage lasted nearly five hours Friday afternoon into the evening, though. The Turner County Sheriff's Office says it [...]Keloland · 14 Nov, 13:37
• Air travelers in Sioux Falls left wondering what's nextWhen the FAA ordered a ground stoppage of all planes Friday, travelers in Sioux Falls were left questioning what comes next.Keloland · 14 Nov, 04:05
• Travelers at Sioux Falls Regional Airport share reactions to nationwide ground stopThe FAA lifted the ground stop just before 8:00 p.m. on Friday and said flights can resume. Travelers in Sioux Falls shared their thoughts while waiting for their flights.Dakotanewsnow · 14 Nov, 03:12
• FAA halts all US planes South Dakota includedSIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) -- Planes are grounded at the Sioux Falls Regional Airport and across South Dakota, per an order from the Federal Aviation Administration. Sioux Falls airport director Dan Lettelier confirmed to KELOLAND News Friday that planes were grounded. In a statement obtained by Nexstar, the FAA specified that the ground stop was [...]Keloland · 13 Nov, 21:37

In this story: FAA · Sioux Falls Regional Airport · South Dakota · Markwayne Mullin · Homeland Security

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