FAA Halts All U.S. Departures: Traveler Alert

Alert for international travelers and visa holders. The Federal Aviation Administration ordered a nationwide ground stop for all departing flights on Friday, Nov. 13, 2026, citing “extraordinary circumstances and for reasons of safety.” The order took effect at 3:54 p.m. ET and holds departures “until further notice.” Inbound international flights are being handled case by case.

What we know

Cause: The FAA blamed a “temporary telecommunications outage.” Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said a communication issue hit all Air Route Traffic Control Centers.
No sign of an attack: Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin said there was no indication yet of anything “nefarious.”
Flights in the air are accounted for and are being brought down safely.
No firm end time. One FAA advisory listed an estimated end of 10 p.m. Central, but the agency has not confirmed when departures will resume.
Rare event. The only earlier full nationwide ground stops were after the 9/11 attacks and during the January 2023 NOTAM system failure.

What visa holders should do now

Check your I-94 date. If a cancellation could keep you in the U.S. past your authorized stay, act before that date passes, not after.
Visa Waiver (ESTA) visitors: if you can’t leave on time because of the cancellation, CBP or USCIS may grant “satisfactory departure” of up to 30 days. Contact them before your stay ends.
Other nonimmigrants (B-1/B-2, F-1, H-1B and others): if the delay could push you past your I-94 date, talk to your attorney about filing Form I-539 (or the right petition) before it expires.
Keep records. Save cancellation notices, rebooking emails and boarding passes. They show the delay was outside your control.
Coming back from abroad? Check your airline’s app often. Inbound international flights may be delayed, held or diverted.
Missed appointments. If you’ll miss a USCIS biometrics appointment, interview or consular appointment because of travel disruption, reschedule as soon as you can and keep proof of why.

Bottom line: A short delay is unlikely to cause problems, but don’t let a cancellation quietly push you past your authorized stay. We’ll update this post when the FAA lifts the ground stop.

This article is for general information and is not legal advice. Talk to your immigration attorney about your specific case.

Sources

Vasanth Vaidyanathan, Esq.

Administrator

Vasanth Vaidyanathan is an immigration attorney with over 20 years of experience focused exclusively on U.S. immigration and nationality law. He holds an LL.M. from California Western School of Law, San Diego and advises individuals and businesses on employment and family-based immigration matters, including H-1B, PERM, EB categories, and adjustment of status. He has also been a featured speaker at immigration seminars across the U.S. To reach Vasanth visit: https://www.vnathan.com/

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