More than 2,000 flights cancelled Saturday after U.S. FAA ground stop lifted

More than 2,000 flights were canceled on Saturday as U.S. airlines worked to recover from the longest nationwide ground stop in 25 years, following a system-wide outage that disrupted communications and radar data. Officials described the interruption as affecting the country’s air traffic control network, with the stoppage lasting more than four hours. A limited number of domestic flights resumed after the stop was lifted around 8:15 p.m. ET.

Across airports, travelers faced delays and cancellations, with many awaiting updates as the delay spreads continued into the evening. Passengers and crews reported long waits and disrupted itineraries, including sports teams adjusting travel plans and gameday schedules. Some travelers diverted to buses or trains to reach destinations.

The outage was attributed by officials to overloaded legacy equipment as the FAA integrated new technology, while they noted that the recently deployed AI-powered tools were not involved in Friday’s failure. Secretary of Homeland Security Markwayne Mullin stated that no one was in danger and emphasized that the disruption affected older components in the system.

The ground stop prompted questions about funding and modernization, with officials citing a need for more investment in air traffic control infrastructure. The FAA has been upgrading copper wires to fiber optics and updating radio systems, with further funding proposals on the table to complete the overhaul.

Sports, travel and daily operations were impacted nationwide, with universities and teams adjusting schedules and travel plans. Transportation Secretary Duffy encouraged coordination with the FAA to prioritize flights for key events and emphasized that additional disruptions could occur as the system undergoes ongoing modernization efforts.