U.S. flights allowed to resume, but Canadians warned to expect delays

U.S. flights were allowed to resume operations after a nationwide disruption that prompted broad warnings and operational adjustments for travelers, according to the Toronto Star’s coverage. The Star notes that U.S. flights have been permitted to resume, with resumed operations intended for travelers who had been affected by the disruptions. Canada’s aviation authorities indicated they would continue to support the safe movement of air traffic in Canadian airspace, including aircraft that might be diverted, and Canadian travelers were warned to anticipate potential delays as services return to normal. The report emphasizes ongoing coordination to manage air traffic safety during the period of resumed U.S. operations and diverted traffic, but it does not provide specifics on airlines, flight numbers, destinations, or the duration of the disruptions.

Additional context from Daily Hive highlights that the disruption originated with a nationwide FAA ground stop affecting all departing flights in the United States, issued on Friday, November 13. Daily Hive notes that the stoppage would disrupt travel plans for Canadians aiming to visit the United States, though it does not detail airports, flight numbers, or carrier responses at that time. The article situates the U.S. action as the catalyst for the broader disruptions affecting cross-border travel.

CTV News reports that seven flights scheduled to depart Edmonton International Airport (YEG) for U.S. destinations between the day of the event and the end of the day could be affected by the FAA action, according to an Edmonton airport spokesperson. The airport staff indicated several U.S.-bound departures from YEG might be impacted, and travelers were advised to verify with their airline for the latest information before arriving at the airport. The duration of the stop was not specified, and the situation was described as evolving. CTV News also ties the broader U.S. action to disruptions at other Canadian and international airports in the hours surrounding the incident, noting that Montreal-Trudeau International Airport announced a temporary suspension of all flights to and from the United States in response to the FAA ground stop, with travelers urged to check airline status as delays and cancellations were anticipated.

A Montreal-focused report from Montreal Gazette describes operational disruptions at a Montreal-area airport resulting from the FAA halt to flights to and from U.S. airspace. The Gazette notes delays and cancellations related to the FAA action and states that the suspension affected departures to and from U.S. airspace serving Montreal-Trudeau, though it does not specify timing, duration, or recovery plans. The Montreal Gazette’s account is cited as a primary source for the incident, with other outlets subsequently covering the development. Simple Flying further reiterates the FAA action and its impact on operations tied to Montreal-Trudeau, while not listing flight numbers, airlines, or exact destinations.

AeroTime’s reporting provides a detailed contemporaneous account of the FAA ground stop and its nationwide scope. The outlet notes that the FAA ordered a nationwide ground stop shortly before 4 p.m. Eastern time on November 13, 2026, due to a communications problem affecting every U.S. ARTCC. AeroTime describes the stoppage as temporary and notes that airline crews were instructed to expect airborne holding due to equipment outages, with approximately 3,100 aircraft reported as airborne and bound for U.S. airports at the time. The report cites US Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy describing the issue as a “communication issue impacting all Air Route Traffic Control Centers” and mentions that FAA technicians were investigating. The article also covers the incident’s broader context, including a prior stoppage in Chicago and the fact that some airports had already begun or were beginning to hold departures or process landings of already en route aircraft.

Across the coverage, authorities’ response is framed as an operationally coordinated effort to maintain safety while addressing the temporary outage. The Transportation Secretary’s comments (as reported by AeroTime) describe the issue as a communications failure affecting all ARTCCs, with investigations underway and airlines and airports adjusting schedules in real time. The reporting also notes the immediate effect on departures and the expectation of holding patterns for aircraft already in the air, pending updated clearances and a restart of normal flight operations.

Taken together, the sources show a coordinated but evolving picture: a nationwide FAA ground stop that halted new U.S. departures, preparation for airborne holds, and subsequent resumption of flights, with cross-border impacts felt in Canadian airports, including Edmonton and Montreal-Trudeau. The reporting highlights that delays and cancellations were anticipated as services began to restore normal operations and that Canadian authorities stressed ongoing safety management in Canadian airspace and the potential for diversions or reprioritizations as needed.

Because the material does not provide final, unified incident conclusions, exact flight numbers, airline names, specific destinations affected, precise restart times, or casualty information is not included in the sources. The reports consistently reflect a temporary, high-impact disruption centered on a nationwide communications failure within U.S. air traffic control infrastructure, with both U.S. and Canadian authorities coordinating to manage safety and minimize disruption while the FAA conducted its investigation and pilots and crews were guided through temporary holding patterns and rescheduling as operations resumed.