All departing flights grounded nationwide due to FAA order

Sun-Times file SHARE COPY LINK Share CLOSE Twitter Facebook Bluesky Email Reddit Flipboard All departing flights at airports in the United States were halted on Friday afternoon by an order from the Federal Aviation Administration. Traffic was halted due to a communication issue that impacted traffic control centers, Department of Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said on X. An equipment outage issue was listed in an FAA status update for Chicago O’Hare International Airport as of 3:40 p.m. This is the first nationwide ground stop since January 2023, when a key FAA computer system malfunctioned, according to the Associated Press. Before that, the last time had been after the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. The nationwide issue was with all Air Route Traffic Control Centers, and FAA technicians were investigating, Duffy said. “We will provide immediate updates as we have them,” his post concluded. The Chicago Department of Aviation said it had no comment and directed questions to the FAA, which did not immediately provide further details. This is a breaking news story. Check back for updates. SHARE COPY LINK Share CLOSE Twitter Facebook Bluesky Email Reddit Flipboard Mariah Rush Chicago Sun-Times Money reporter David Struett Chicago Sun-Times Reporter/assistant news editor Next Up In News Illinois Family Dollar customers to receive payments from $63 million settlement over price discrepancies Lurie Children’s gets state approval for $480 million hospital in Downers Grove Police seek man who attacked Red Line passenger with a chair Chicago mayoral candidates make their pitches — and take aim at Brandon Johnson Chicago police rarely seize guns from domestic abusers, despite state law Finalists for Chicago's next top cop are all CPD insiders