Local
FAA Halts All Flights Nationwide, Including at Philadelphia International, Citing Communications Failure
The Federal Aviation Administration ordered a nationwide ground stop Friday evening, grounding all airlines at every U.S. airport, including Philadelphia International, because of a communications issue. The agency cited 'extraordinary circumstances' and safety in its order to halt all departures.
All flights across the United States were ordered grounded Friday evening after the Federal Aviation Administration issued a nationwide ground stop affecting every airport in the country, including Philadelphia International Airport.
The FAA said the halt was prompted by a communications issue and was issued for safety reasons. In a directive to aircraft operators, the agency's command center announced that all airports were being ground stopped under what it described as extraordinary circumstances.
The order, issued shortly before 9 p.m. Eastern time, applied to all airlines and all airports nationwide, not just Philadelphia. That means departures were halted across the country at the same time, a rare step that ripples through the entire air travel system within minutes.
For travelers in the Philadelphia region, the immediate effect is that planes bound for PHL and flights scheduled to leave from it are being held. The full scope of the disruption â how long the stop lasts and how many flights are affected â was not immediately clear Friday night.
A nationwide ground stop is one of the most sweeping tools available to the FAA. It goes beyond the more common local or regional holds issued during severe weather or equipment failures, and it can strand passengers at airports across the country simultaneously. The agency has used similar orders in the past when safety systems or communications links were compromised, but a full national halt remains unusual.
Philadelphia International is among the busiest airports in the region and a major hub for connecting traffic along the East Coast. A halt there, combined with holds at airports nationwide, is likely to produce cascading delays and cancellations into the weekend even after the order is lifted.
Passengers with travel plans Friday night and Saturday should check with their airlines for flight status before heading to the airport. Airlines typically begin adjusting schedules and rebooking travelers as soon as a ground stop is announced, but recovery can take hours or longer depending on how long the halt remains in effect.
The FAA did not immediately provide a timeline for when the ground stop would be lifted or detail what specific communications problem triggered the order. The agency said only that the action was taken for safety.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates on when flights will resume and what it means for travelers at PHL.