U.S. FAA suspends all aircraft departures due to nationwide communications failure

The Federal Aviation Administration ordered a nationwide suspension of all aircraft departures at all United States airports on Friday, November 13, 2026. The agency cited extraordinary circumstances and security reasons for the halt. This suspension affects all en-route air traffic control centers and remains in effect until further notice. Major airports, including Atlanta, Miami, Los Angeles, and New York JFK, have confirmed the suspension of departures.

U.S. Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy stated that the issue involves a communications failure affecting en-route air traffic control centers. U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Markwayne Mullin stated that the disruption was not intentional and is not a terrorist attack. While the exact cause remains under investigation, one report suggested a communications network update by L3Harris caused the system reboot and subsequent failure.

Impact on Aviation and Markets

The disruption has caused significant logistical and financial consequences. At the time of the report, Flightradar24 indicated there were 3,100 aircraft in the air. The scale of the disruption is reflected in conflicting reports regarding delays and cancellations. Chilean media reported that Santiago International Airport has already reported cancellations for flights bound for Miami, New York, and Los Angeles. Additionally, LATAM Airlines issued a statement regarding potential flight disruptions caused by the U.S. suspension.

The financial impact was immediately visible on the stock market. United Airlines Holdings saw a stock price decrease of 2.3%, Delta Air Lines decreased by 1.4%, and American Airlines Group saw a 2.1% decrease. The FAA manages an average of 45,000 daily flights and serves approximately 2.9 million daily passengers, making the scale of this suspension unprecedented.

Historical Context and Infrastructure

This incident marks the third general suspension of departures in the United States during this century, following similar events in September 2001 and January 2023. The U.S. airspace is the most heavily trafficked in the world, and the FAA has been undergoing infrastructure renewal since 2025 to address issues with obsolete equipment. In 2025, Congress provided US$ 12.5 billion in funding for this infrastructure renewal. The Department of Transportation has also requested an additional US$ 30 billion in funding.

L3Harris has been identified as a primary provider of communication systems for airspaces. As the suspension continues, officials continue to manage international flights destined for the United States on a case-by-case basis.

Glossary

• Santiago International Airport — Santiago International Airport is an airport located in Pudahuel. It was built between 1961 and 1967 to provide modern, jet-era facilities for domestic and intercontinental flights.
• LATAM Airlines — LATAM Airlines is a Chilean multinational airline headquartered in Santiago, Chile. It is the largest airline holding company in Latin America with subsidiaries in Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Paraguay and Peru.
• Delta Air Lines — Delta Air Lines is an airline that has held a stake in the LATAM group. Its stock price is traded on the stock market.
• Congress — Congress is a body that provides funding for infrastructure renewal. In 2025, it provided US$ 12.5 billion for this purpose.
• Federal Aviation Administration — The Federal Aviation Administration is an agency that manages an average of 45,000 daily flights and serves approximately 2.9 million daily passengers. It is also responsible for managing the United States airspace.