All Flights Suspended Across US

INTERNATIONAL BUREAU —The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) ordered a nationwide ground stop for all departing flights after serious communications problems disrupted the country's air traffic control system. The FAA cited “extraordinary circumstances” and safety concerns for the decision, preventing aircraft on the ground from taking off across the United States.

Planes already airborne were allowed to continue to their destinations and land normally. International departures were being handled on a case-by-case basis, according to Reuters. The nationwide order followed an earlier halt to air traffic in Chicago linked to communications problems.

Communications Problems Hit US Air Traffic Control The disruption affected communications involving the 22 regional air traffic control centers responsible for directing aircraft traveling between airports across the country. US Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said technicians were investigating the problem.

The incident represents one of the most significant disruptions to US aviation in years. Reuters reported that it was only the second nationwide halt of all departures since the September 11, 2001 attacks, following a system failure that temporarily grounded departures in January 2023.

Aging FAA Infrastructure Under Scrutiny The outage has again drawn attention to aging US air traffic control infrastructure. Congress approved $12.5 billion for modernization last year, including upgrades to communications systems and the replacement of older infrastructure. The FAA and White House on Friday also sought an additional $30.1 billion from Congress to address remaining problems with the system, according to Reuters.

Passengers with scheduled flights have been advised to check directly with their airlines for flight-specific delays, cancellations and revised departure times. The post All Flights Suspended Across US appeared first on ProPakistani .