Weather news
4 hr 22 min nationwide ground stop, longest since 9/11, is over
By Ryan Hall, Y'all Weather Desk ยท Published
Written by our automated news desk from National Weather Service data.
Key points
- What: The FAA stopped departures nationwide Friday afternoon. It was lifted as of 8:15 PM ET, per The Air Current's Jon Ostrower.
- How long: 4 hours 22 minutes, from 3:53 PM ET to 8:15 PM ET.
- Cause: The FAA's re-issued 5:46 PM ET advisory listed a "communications failure." We have nothing more on the cause yet.
- Fallout: Southwest and JetBlue canceled flights for the rest of Friday, and Air Canada canceled its U.S. flights, Reuters reported.
- What it means: Saturday travelers should check for knock-on delays.
The FAA's nationwide ground stop on Friday, Nov. 13 lasted 4 hours and 22 minutes, the longest since 9/11. It began at 3:53 PM ET and was lifted as of 8:15 PM ET, which means departures across the country were held on the ground for the entire stretch.
If you fly today, check for leftover delays and cancellations. Check your flight status before you head to the airport.
What happened Friday
The FAA issued the nationwide ground stop in advisory 111 at 3:53 PM ET Friday. At 5:46 PM ET it re-issued the stop as advisory 120, with the reason given as a "communications failure."
A US official told Reuters the stop was about to be lifted, and Ostrower reported it lifted as of 8:15 PM ET. The FAA's advisory site had not posted a lift notice as of 8:23 PM ET, so the official paperwork lagged the reports. Later Friday night, the FAA canceled the ground delay program at LaGuardia, saying "program goals met."
Weather was not named as the reason for the stop. Nothing in the advisories we read points to it.
How it compares
A ground stop holds planes at their departure airports. Nationwide ones are rare. By CNN and CBS accounting, the only other since 9/11 came on Jan. 11, 2023. That one was lifted about 8:50 AM ET and lasted under 2 hours.
Friday's ran more than twice as long.
What to do
Airlines canceled flights outright. Saturday travelers should check for delays or cancellations.
- Check your airline's app or text alerts before you leave home.
- If your flight was canceled Friday, rebook through the app first. Airport lines may be long.
- Build in extra time, especially at big hubs.
- Our airport delay outlook tracks where delays are piling up.
Weather that could add to delays this weekend
Weather is not behind this, but it can pile onto a shaky travel weekend.
- Saturday: A Level 1 of 4 (Marginal) flash flood risk covers parts of Texas, Oklahoma and the Olympic Peninsula of Washington. Marginal winter weather impacts are possible across the interior Northeast and upper Ohio Valley.
- Sunday, Nov. 15: Coastal Texas has the bigger concern, a Level 2 of 4 (Slight) flash flood risk, plus a Level 1 of 5 (Marginal) risk of severe storms. That includes the Houston, San Antonio and Corpus Christi areas, with storms developing by midday. Hail and damaging gusts are possible in the stronger ones, and a brief tornado can't be ruled out. The flash flood outlook and severe storm outlook have the latest.
Both Texas risks are low-end. If you're flying through Houston or San Antonio on Sunday, watch for delays.
Bottom line
The 4 hr 22 min ground stop is over, but Saturday travelers should still check for delays or cancellations. Check your flight before you go, and give yourself extra time today.
| Date | Length | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Nov 13, 2026 | 4 hr 22 min | 3:53 PM ET to 8:15 PM ET |
| Jan 11, 2023 | under 2 hours | Lifted about 8:50 AM ET |
https://ryanhallyall.com/news/4-hr-22-min-nationwide-ground-stop-longest-since-911-is-over