FAA Grounds All U.S. Flights: What Travelers Can Do Right Now

On Friday afternoon, departure boards at U.S. airports showed “delayed” almost all at once.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) halted all departing flights nationwide, making it only the second national ground stop since the terror attacks of September 11, 2001. The most recent occurred in January 2023.

At this point, no one knows exactly when things will return to normal. What we do know, however, is that there will be a ripple effect felt throughout the weekend, at least.

If you’re stuck at a gate or on a plane, you may have more options than it might seem. Here’s how you can help yourself, along with some answers to questions you might have while waiting around.

The FAA Halts All Departures Nationwide

The FAA issued a nationwide ground stop on Friday, November 13, 2026, citing “extraordinary circumstances and for reasons of safety.” The stop took effect at 2:54 p.m. Central time. Flights already in the air can continue to their intended destination, and international flights headed to the U.S. are being handled on a “case-by-case” basis.

As of the time of writing, the FAA hasn’t named a cause for the ground stop. Reuters reported that the stop followed serious air traffic control communications issues and that the FAA had halted Chicago traffic shortly before the ground stop expanded to more locations. The advisory lists an estimated end time of 10 p.m. Central, but that remains to be seen.

Even after departures resume, expect cancellations and crowded flights into the weekend due to ripple effects and planes needing to catch up on their schedules.

What Travelers Can Do

Here are tips to help you help yourself in this uncertainty.

Get in the queue any and every way you can. Check your airline’s app first; rebooking options often appear there before they’re available to gate agents. If you get in line to talk to someone at the airport, call the airline at the same time. Try the carrier’s chat or social media channels as well.

Know when you’re owed a refund. Under Department of Transportation (DOT) rules, you’re entitled to a full refund if your flight is canceled, delayed more than 3 hours for domestic trips, or delayed more than 6 hours for international flights — assuming you choose not to travel on the delayed itinerary. That applies no matter what caused the disruption, so the airline can’t force you to take a future credit/voucher if you don’t want that.

If you accept a rebooking, you’ve accepted the alternative and given up the refund, so decide before you click.

Basic economy doesn’t change your refund rights. The refund rule covers every fare type for every paying passenger. If your airline issues a travel waiver for free changes, read it to see which fares and dates it covers before you sign or click anything.

Rebooking is free, but seats are scarce. Airlines generally rebook you on their next available flight at no extra cost to you. With the whole country grounded, though, open seats on the next flight will fill up fast. There’s no federal rule requiring an airline to move you onto a flight operated by a competitor.

Don’t expect meal vouchers or hotel rooms. Airlines’ meal and hotel commitments cover disruptions that were caused by the airline itself. An FAA ground stop isn’t the airline’s fault, so plan to pay for these yourself. If you think you’ll be stuck overnight, book a refundable hotel room now — and do it before nearby rooms sell out or resort to price gouging.

Missed connections depend on your ticket. If both flights are on the same ticket with the same reservation number, the airline is responsible for getting you to your final destination. Yes, even if these delays cause you to miss the next flight and you get stuck somewhere in the middle. If you booked 2 flights separately on different tickets, the second airline may treat you as a no-show. Call that airline before your flight leaves without you so you can understand your situation and options.

Check your travel insurance. Trip delay coverage usually pays for meals, lodging, and transportation once a delay exceeds a set number of hours, such as 3 or 6 hours. You’ll need to have purchased a policy before the event happened, so a policy you buy now won’t cover today’s events or their ripple effects.

Look at your credit card benefits. Travel rewards credit cards include trip delay coverage when you paid for your ticket with that card. Coverage typically starts after a 6- or 12-hour delay, depending on the card you used. Your card’s benefits guide lists the exact terms and what receipts you can submit for reimbursement.

Save everything. Keep receipts for food, hotels, ground transportation, rebooking, and toiletries. Screenshot the airline’s delay and cancellation notices, and take a photo of the departure board at the airport showing that your flight is delayed or canceled. Insurance companies and card issuers will ask for proof of the delay and what you had to pay out of pocket because of it.

Think about your checked bag. If you abandon your trip and decide to go home, ask the airline to return your bag. It may take hours to reach you, so keep medications and phone chargers in your carry-on whenever possible.

Final Thoughts

This ground stop is beyond your control, and the backlog will last longer than the ground stop itself.

While you can’t control the flights, you can control how quickly you take action. Rebook early, know when to ask for compensation, and keep your receipts.

Patience helps too. The agents you’re talking to during a ground stop didn’t cause this problem, but they can help you find a solution. Remember to be kind to them.