Thousands of flights cancelled Saturday as airlines work to recover from U.S. ground stop

More than 2,000 flights were canceled on Saturday as U.S. airlines worked to recover from the nation’s longest ground stop in 25 years. Officials attributed the disruption to “intermittent” communications and radar gaps caused by new technology added to the air traffic control system, which overloaded older equipment.

The disruption began with a nationwide stop that lasted more than four hours, lifting around 8:15 p.m. ET. After the stop, only a limited number of domestic flights resumed, with continued effects anticipated in the days ahead as the system returns to normal in time for upcoming travel. Authorities emphasized that no immediate danger was present during the halt or the subsequent operations.

Across airports, travelers faced delays and cancellations, while some sought alternate transportation by bus or train. University athletic programs adjusted schedules and travel plans, with several football teams redirecting trips and game times to accommodate the disruption and travel delays.

Officials indicated that the issues were tied to legacy infrastructure, separate from the FAA’s newer AI-assisted tools, and noted ongoing efforts to upgrade the aging network. They pointed to prior modernization efforts—including fiber optic replacements and radio-system upgrades—as part of a larger funding-backed overhaul.

The administration signaled potential further disruptions if funding gaps persist, while stressing that the current outage was not caused by the AI-centered technology being implemented. The incident has prompted renewed discussions about funding to complete the air-traffic-system modernization underway since last year.