All aircraft takeoffs in the US have been suspended. Serious communication failure

The nationwide suspension of takeoffs means that planes already in the air can continue to fly and land. However, planes remaining at airports cannot take off until further notice.

The FAA said international flights will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

Shortly before issuing the nationwide decision, the agency suspended air traffic in Chicago. The reason was also communication problems with air traffic controllers.

"All departing traffic should remain suspended until further notice," the FAA said.

Reuters reports from FlightAware that nearly 7,000 flights were suspended or canceled across the country.

According to the FAA, as air traffic control centers are restored, planes will be able to begin flights after consultation with the air traffic control system management center.

According to preliminary signals, communication problems have started to subside in some places.

Preliminary findings indicate that the nationwide suspension of aircraft takeoffs in the United States was not the result of a cyberattack, CNN reported, citing police sources.

Communication failure between pilots and controllers

According to the FAA, the decision was caused by a series of "successive radio failures." It's about communication between pilots and air traffic control centers.

When the restrictions were announced, there were about a thousand planes in American airspace.

Aviation analyst Robert Mann estimated that if the ban continues into the evening, carriers may need the entire weekend to organize their flight schedules.

The second such case since the September 11 attacks

This is the second nationwide suspension of all departures in the United States since the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks.

The previous such situation occurred in January 2023. The FAA then suspended all domestic departures for less than two hours.

The U.S. Congress approved $12.5 billion last year to modernize the FAA's outdated communications system.

On Friday, the FAA and the White House asked Congress for an additional $30.1 billion to address more problems in the air traffic management system.