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The FAA halted departing flights nationwide after a communications outage, then lifted the stop Friday night.

The FAA said communications problems at air traffic control centers prompted the nationwide ground stop for safety, and technicians investigated. The FAA later lifted the stop; officials said some international flights could depart during it.

What the reports agree on

  • The FAA ordered a nationwide ground stop for departing flights at U.S. airports on Friday. Newsweek, The Hill, PBS NewsHour, CBS News and 4 more
  • A communications or telecommunications problem affecting air traffic control centers led to the stop. Newsweek, The Hill, PBS NewsHour, CBS News and 4 more
  • FAA technicians were investigating the problem. Newsweek, The Hill, PBS NewsHour, ABC News and 3 more
  • The FAA cited safety concerns as a reason for the ground stop. Newsweek, PBS NewsHour, ABC News, CBS News
  • Some international flights were allowed to depart or were handled case by case during the stop. Newsweek, CBS News, Ars Technica, Guardian World and 1 more
  • The FAA later lifted the ground stop on Friday. Axios, CBS News, The Hill

Where reports differ

  • The Hill reported that the communication issue affected all Air Route Traffic Control Centers. The Hill
  • Newsweek described the communication problems as affecting multiple Air Route Traffic Control Centers. Newsweek
  • Axios reported more than 10,000 domestic delays and 4,000 cancellations by 7:15 p.m. ET. Axios
  • Guardian World reported 10,543 delays and 3,580 cancellations within, into, or out of the United States. Guardian World

Reported by one outlet

  • Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said U.S. airspace reopened at 8:15 p.m. Eastern Time. The Hill
  • The FBI was investigating whether a faulty software update caused the problems. Axios
  • FlightAware reported about 7,000 delayed or canceled flights. Al Jazeera
  • The FAA ordered ground stops at Chicago O’Hare and Midway earlier that afternoon because of an equipment outage. ABC News

The original reports

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