Temporary take-off ban in the USA: “Incredibly outdated air traffic control system”

Temporary take-off ban in the USA "Incredibly outdated air traffic control system" As of: November 14, 2026 • 8:15 a.m

No planes were allowed to take off in the USA for hours. The government blames outdated technology. The ban has now been lifted - but when air traffic will return to normal is unclear.

All takeoffs at US airports were stopped for around four hours. The stop was then lifted again at 8:15 p.m. US Eastern Time, 2:15 a.m. in Germany.

By this point, almost 6,700 flights had been canceled, and two hours later the number had risen to almost 7,500 canceled flights. In addition, thousands of flights have been postponed.

The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has stopped all takeoffs at US airports. more

Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin and Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy appeared together in front of the press at the White House: "From what we know, it was not a cyberattack," emphasized Mullin.

The reason was rather a disruption in telecommunications. At no time were human lives at risk or aircraft in danger.

Duffy blames outdated technology. "We have an incredibly outdated air traffic control system. The routers were overloaded. There were inconsistencies in the data. That's why we shut down the system," explained Duffy.

He has long been demanding more money from Congress for modernization: at least $30 billion, said Duffy. Just last year, Congress gave the Department of Transportation $12.5 billion to begin modernizing the nation's air traffic control infrastructure.

After a helicopter collided with a passenger plane, initial findings about the cause are available. more

It is unclear when air traffic will return to normal. Duffy expects it will take some time. Hopefully there will be more flights again on Saturday.

Until then, thousands of passengers will still be stuck at the airports. But most people take it in stride. Like this passenger stuck at Chicago airport trying to get to Toronto: "What do you want to do? If you get angry, you lose."

The discussion about the consequences will gain momentum in the coming days. It was only the third time ever that the US Federal Aviation Administration has imposed a nationwide take-off stop.

This was last the case in 2023. At that time, an FAA computer system failed. The first nationwide launch ban came after the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001.

This topic in the program: NDR Info | News | 11/14/2026 | 03:00 amtagesschau.de | After a nationwide stop - planes in the USA are allowed to take off again | 11/14/2026 | 6:17 a.m