US flights slowly resume after nationwide ground stop

Flights across the United States have started to resume after the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) lifted a rare nationwide ground stop, but officials say it will take time before schedules return to normal.

The order, which kept aircraft on the ground across the country, was issued on Friday afternoon and lasted about four hours. In that time, many flights were delayed or cancelled and airports filled with stranded passengers.

What happened

The FAA described the problem as a safety and communication issue. A nationwide ground stop is unusual: it halts departures everywhere rather than at a single airport or region, and it is normally used only when air traffic controllers or pilots cannot reliably communicate.

US officials said the disruption was linked to a major communications outage. The transportation secretary, Sean Duffy, said the airspace was open again and that the problem had been identified. Officials also said the cause was old equipment that became overloaded, and not a cyber-attack.

Why a full recovery takes time

Lifting the stop does not instantly put everything back on schedule. Aircraft and crews are out of position after hours on the ground, and airlines must reorder flights while airports work through a backlog of passengers. Authorities have warned that some delays and cancellations are likely to continue as the system catches up.

What travellers can do

Passengers whose plans were disrupted are advised to check the status of their flight with their airline before leaving for the airport. Many airlines let affected customers rebook without a change fee, and some will offer a refund if a flight is cancelled. Travellers should keep receipts for meals or hotel stays, as policies on covering these costs differ between airlines.

Why it matters

The episode has renewed attention on how much of the country's air travel depends on ageing equipment. A single failure that forces every aircraft to stay put shows how quickly a technical fault can turn into a national travel problem. Officials have not yet said how the equipment will be repaired or replaced, and more detail is expected as the investigation continues.

What happens next

Airlines are expected to keep adjusting their schedules over the coming day. Passengers should expect crowded airports and should allow extra time. Further updates on the cause and any lasting fixes are likely to come from the FAA and the Department of Transportation.