The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) lifted a nationwide ground stop on Friday, allowing flight departures to resume after a temporary communications outage disrupted air traffic control operations. The FAA confirmed there was no evidence of a cyberattack or malicious activity behind the disruption, and public safety was not at risk.
The ground stop, which began on November 13, halted all departing flights from US airports due to serious issues with air traffic control communications. Senior officials, including Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin and Transportation Secretary Shawn Duffy, stated the situation was resolved without any security threats. The FAA worked closely with regional air traffic control centers to restore normal operations.
This incident marks the second time in recent months that the FAA has implemented a nationwide ground stop due to communication failures. The disruption affected multiple airlines, including Cathay Pacific, which warned of delays for flights bound for Hong Kong. The FAA emphasized that the issue was technical in nature and did not involve any external threats. The agency is continuing to monitor the situation to ensure full operational recovery.
