The United States suspends flights throughout the country due to “extraordinary circumstances and security reasons”

The United States Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) ordered this Friday afternoon the suspension of domestic flights “due to extraordinary circumstances and for security reasons” due to problems in air traffic control communications. The order affects thousands of flights throughout the country. Tens of thousands of passengers have been trapped without knowing when they will be able to resume their trips.

The Secretary of Transportation, Sean Duffy, confirmed the interruption of air traffic through a publication on social networks where he explained, without giving many details, that a communications problem affects all route air traffic control centers.

“FAA technicians are investigating the problem,” added the Trump cabinet member.

"All departing flights must remain grounded until further notice. Incoming international flights will be managed on a case-by-case basis," the FAA says in a statement.

The Secretary of Homeland Security, Markwayne Mullin, clarified that it was only a communications problem and ruled out that after the suspension of domestic flights there was any criminal act, although the agents continued to investigate the specific causes and did not rule out any scenario. "So far, there is no indication that this is a malicious attack against us. For now, it is only a telecommunications interruption," he said.

The last time a general suspension of flights was declared nationwide was in January 2023, when a breakdown occurred in the pilot notification system. Before that, the last time it had happened was after the September 11, 2001 attacks in New York City and Washington, D.C.

“The FAA has declared a nationwide suspension of takeoffs at all US airports following a communication problem that affects all air traffic control centers,” US Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy announced on X. "FAA technicians are investigating the issue. We will provide updated information immediately as we have it."

EL PAÍS contacted the FAA about the reasons for the suspension and has not received a response at the moment.

Following the federal agency's announcement, delays began to be announced at Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas. Some customers milled around the counters to ask what was happening with their luggage and stopovers. There are brief explanations from the staff. “I know you have a lot of questions, but I don't have the answers,” explains one of the airport hostesses over the public address system. “Every single airline and plane is grounded.” “No airline, no one, is flying,” says one employee. “No one is going anywhere,” adds another.

One of the passengers waiting patiently next to door C1 is David Tapia. He arrived with his team on Tuesday in Las Vegas to work on the Latin Grammys ceremony. Today I was flying back to Los Angeles. "Closing airports across the country is a big deal, being Friday. And it's Friday the 13th. I'm not superstitious, but it's the unlucky day."

In 2023, a computer failure completely paralyzed takeoffs at airports in the United States, causing the cancellation of more than a thousand flights and tens of thousands of delays throughout the country. That failure left the Notifications to Air Missions (NOTAM) system inoperative, which alerts aircraft pilots and other flight personnel about dangers on the route or changes in the services or procedures of airport facilities.