FAA grounds all US flights amid communications failure at control centres

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 14 Nov, 00:01 · Archive

The FAA grounded all flights nationwide Friday because of communications problems at regional air traffic control centres.

The Federal Aviation Administration grounded all flights nationwide Friday afternoon due to reported communications problems at regional air traffic control centres. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said the communications issue was affecting the regional air traffic control centres that direct planes between airports nationwide. The FAA notice said the ground stop was imposed 'due to extraordinary circumstances and for reasons of safety'. This is the first nationwide ground stop since January 2023, when a key FAA computer system malfunctioned.

A new Department of Transportation rule that took effect on 19 October may limit whether airlines must compensate passengers for the resulting delays and cancellations. Under the rule, airlines no longer have to compensate passengers for 'a shutdown or system failure of government systems that directly affects the ability of an air carrier to conduct flights safely and is unexpected'. The rule removes ten types of flight disruptions from the category for which airlines must provide compensation. Airlines may deny vouchers, meals, hotel reimbursements or refunds for delays caused by any of the excluded events.

The change comes under the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2024 and is affecting hundreds of thousands of travellers. Affected passengers could need places to stay, meals, water and other resources, with children, older people and those needing to arrive quickly for medications or certain foods potentially most impacted.

How it is being reported

• New rule may limit airline refunds after FAA grounds all flights nationwideA new Department of Transportation rule may affect whether airlines have to compensate passengers for resulting delays and cancellations.Azfamily · 13 Nov, 23:12
• New rule may limit airline refunds after FAA grounds all flights nationwideA new Department of Transportation rule may affect whether airlines have to compensate passengers for resulting delays and cancellations.KOLD · 13 Nov, 23:12

In this story: Federal Aviation Administration · Department of Transportation · Sean Duffy · United States

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