The FAA has ordered a nationwide ground stop of all departing flights at US airports, citing "extraordinary circumstances". Its Air Traffic Control System Command Center issued the "National Ground Stop" advisory at 3.54pm ET (8.54pm UK time) on Friday 13 November.
The advisory, as quoted by ABC7 Los Angeles, reads:
"Due to extraordinary circumstances and for reasons of safety. Attention all aircraft operators, by order of the Federal Aviation Command Center all airports are ground stopped. All departing traffic should remain ground stopped until further notice. Inbound international flights will be managed on a case by case basis."
Aircraft already in the air can continue and land. The advisory gives no cause, and the FAA has not published a count of affected flights or passengers.
The stop was initially listed through 11pm ET. Earlier unofficial reports that it would end at 5pm ET have not been confirmed by the FAA, NewsOn6 reports.
NBC News calls nationwide ground stops "extremely rare". The last one, on 11 January 2023, followed a NOTAM system failure and lasted about 90 minutes, according to NewsOn6. Flying and ABC News describe Friday's stop as the second since 9/11. That claim has not been independently checked.