FAA Orders Nationwide Ground Stop At All Airports, Including PHL

The Federal Aviation Administration has issued a nationwide ground stop impacting all airports, including at Philadelphia International Airport. No flights are permitted to take off.

In a statement, the FAA cited "extraordinary circumstances and for reasons of safety."

US Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy added that there was a communication issue that impacted all Air Route Traffic Control Centers.

The FAA is investigating.

It is not known how long the ground stop will be in place.

It marks only the second nationwide ground stop since the 9/11 attacks, after a pilot notification system was disabled in Jan. 2023.

Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin said that the incident is not the result of a cyberattack or a threat to the United States.

Leaders are calling for explanations and further investigation.

“The safety of our skies is built on redundancies," Sen. Tammy Duckworth shared on social media. "Whatever led to the nationwide ground stop will warrant a thorough and complete investigation. I’ll be demanding answers from the FAA.”

This is a breaking story. More information will be provided as it becomes available.