FAA: Duffy links outage to L3Harris maintenance work
Installation error or a faulty router remain under investigation. The Transportation Department warns of delays and cancellations.
Update 14.11.2026 · 22:12, Athens time — What changed
In an update published on 14 November, the US Department of Transportation set out Secretary Sean Duffy’s preliminary explanation: the 13 November problem arose during L3Harris work at a remote FAA facility. The work involved replacing a copper telecommunications line with fibre.
According to Duffy, a router being replaced began flooding other routers in the system with connection attempts, affecting aircraft communications and radar feeds. He said it had not been determined whether this involved L3Harris user or installation error, or a faulty router. This preliminary account is not a final technical finding.
FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford clarified that the work was routine maintenance of the existing telecommunications network. He distinguished it from the $12.5 billion Peraton–FAA modernisation programme.
In the same 14 November announcement, the Transportation Department says the airspace is open but warns passengers to expect delays and cancellations. Restarting the system does not mean every flight is operating normally.
Previous update 14.11.2026 · 06:13 — history
Update 14.11.2026 · 06:13, Athens time — What changed
In a statement dated 04:00 Athens time on November 14, Delta said departures had resumed after the nationwide ground stop was lifted. It warned that resetting its schedule would take time as aircraft and crews were repositioned.
The special rebooking policy covers systemwide travel on November 13–14 for tickets issued by November 13. Both the change and new departure must occur by November 21, in the same cabin, to have fare differences waived, subject to the offer’s availability conditions.
Outside these conditions, or for an origin/destination change, a fare difference may apply. The offer also provides cancellation for an eCredit toward future travel; it does not describe this credit as a monetary refund.
Update 14.11.2026 · 05:08, Athens time — What changed
US Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said the nationwide ground stop was lifted at 20:15 Eastern Time on November 13, equivalent to 03:15 Athens time on November 14. This is a newer official timeline for the lifting; the 03:56 time cited below is the publication time of Eurocontrol’s update.
In his public video explanation, Duffy said old switches and routers had become overloaded with data. He corrected his initial wording that the devices had gone down, saying instead that they were providing inconsistent data and that the system was shut down because of this. This is the secretary’s explanation, rather than a published technical investigation report.
His published timeline places the start of telecommunications problems at 15:36 Eastern Time, equivalent to 22:36 Athens time on November 13. He also said the FAA had not lost all radar or telecommunications and that exceptions had been allowed for critical medical evacuations, life-saving cargo and law-enforcement flights. Passengers should check the status of their specific flight with their airline.
Update 14.11.2026 · 04:18, Athens time — What changed
In a notice published at 03:56 Athens time on November 14, Eurocontrol says the FAA has resumed normal operations and NOTAM A0423/26 has been cancelled with immediate effect. The update confirms that the nationwide ground stop has been lifted.
For international westbound flights to US airports that had been suspended, the Network Manager Operations Centre (NMOC) asks operators to update their estimated off-block departure times.
The FAA’s official status summary no longer listed the nationwide stop when checked at 04:04 Athens time. Separate entries remained for Chicago O’Hare, restricted to United and its subsidiaries, and Seattle. Passengers should check the status of their specific flight with their airline.
Update 14.11.2026 · 02:15, Athens time — What changed
Eurocontrol is suspending all traffic departing from within the IFPZ, described in the notice as Eurocontrol member states, for US airports between 22:00 UTC on November 13 and 05:00 UTC on November 14 — from 00:00 to 07:00 Athens time on Saturday, November 14. The official notice from the Network Manager Operations Centre (NMOC) says the restriction is at the FAA’s request because of technical issues.
The notice is displayed on the official Network Operations Portal with a timestamp of 23:03 UTC on November 13, or 01:03 Athens time on November 14. Its stated time window does not confirm that flights will automatically resume at 07:00. NMOC says it is monitoring the situation and will provide updates.
The FAA’s official status summary still listed the nationwide ground stop for departures from US airports, linking to advisory 120, when checked at 02:06 Athens time. The advisory provides for departures coordinated with ATCSCC as en-route air traffic control facilities recover. The expected update at 06:00 Athens time remains a time for further communication, with no confirmed time for a general lifting of the ground stop.
Update 14.11.2026 · 01:26, Athens time — What changed
The nationwide ground stop for departures from US airports remains in effect, according to updated advisory 120 from the FAA’s Air Traffic Control System Command Center (ATCSCC), signed at 00:46 Athens time on Saturday, November 14. The advisory identifies a communications failure as the reason. It says flights will be allowed to depart through coordination with the ATCSCC as en-route air traffic control facilities recover.
The FAA’s official status summary still listed the nationwide ground stop and linked to advisory 120 when checked at 01:10 Athens time. The advisory expects an update at 06:00 Athens time on November 14. This is an update time, with no confirmed time for a general resumption of departures or an automatic lifting of the measure.
Previous update 13.11.2026 · 23:57, Athens time — advisory 111
The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued a nationwide ground stop for departures from all airports. The order also covers international departures. Air Traffic Control System Command Center advisory 111, signed 13 November 2026 at 20:54 UTC — 22:54 Athens time, instructs all departing traffic to remain on the ground until further notice.
The FAA’s current official status table, last updated at 21:56:04 UTC — 23:56:04 Athens time, still listed the ground stop for all airports. Its stated reason is an equipment outage.
The official advisory says inbound international flights will be managed on a case-by-case basis. It cites extraordinary circumstances and safety reasons.
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