Air Traffic Control Failure Behind Nationwide Departure Ban at US Airports

A communications failure hit every regional air traffic control center in the country. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy says this triggered the sudden halt to takeoffs.

A sudden US airports departure ban has stopped takeoffs across the country. The cause is a communications failure that hit every regional air traffic control center. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy shared the details in a post on X.

Duffy explains why takeoffs were halted

Duffy said the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) ordered the pause after the communications problem appeared. He described the step in his own post.

“The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has imposed a nationwide departure ban for all US airports after a communications problem affecting all regional air traffic control centers. FAA technical specialists are working to find the causes of the malfunction,” Duffy wrote on X.

FAA confirms an emergency pause

The aviation regulator’s press office had earlier confirmed the nationwide pause on departures. It said the move covers aircraft at every airport in the country. Officials cited emergency circumstances and safety as the reasons.

International flights heading to the United States will be handled one by one. Each arriving flight gets its own treatment from air traffic staff.

When the restrictions began and how long they may last

The limits took effect at 3:53 p.m. Eastern time. That equals 11:53 p.m. in Moscow. Early estimates say the restrictions will last until 11:00 to 11:30 p.m. local time. That is 7:00 to 7:30 a.m. Moscow time on Saturday.

The US airports departure ban stays in place while technical teams look into the failure.