TravelSaturday, November 14
A nationwide FAA ground stop delayed flights at MIA and FLL on Friday before it was lifted
The 5AM Miami team
If you were flying out of Miami International or Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood on Friday, you may have felt it. The FAA issued a nationwide ground stop for all U.S. airports that afternoon, citing “extraordinary circumstances and for reasons of safety.” Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said a communication issue was hitting all Air Route Traffic Control Centers.
Each airport logged 246 delays and 12 cancellations by 4:30 p.m.
- 246
- delays at each of MIA and FLL as of 4:30 p.m.
- 12
- cancellations at each airport at that time
- Jan. 2023
- the last nationwide ground stop before Friday's
Source: NBC 6 South Florida
Plenty of travelers learned about it at the terminal. Elizabeth Claros said she got no notification until she arrived. The FAA and White House said the cause appeared to be a “telecommunications outage,” and the airports felt the effects through the night after the stop was lifted.
- Ground stops can last 30 minutes to 3 hours, per Direct Travel
- Refund: owed if the airline cancels and you decline a new flight
- Before 2023, the last nationwide stop came after Sept. 11, 2001
The ground stop was announced Friday afternoon and lifted later Friday
- 3:54 p.m.The FAA advisory says all airports are ground stopped.
- 4:16 p.m.Duffy posts that FAA technicians are investigating the issue.
- Later FridayThe FAA lifts the ground stop; South Florida airports keep feeling effects through the night.
Sources: Miami Herald, CBS Miami
Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin said there was no indication yet that “this was a nefarious attack against us.” Flying today? We suggest checking your airline's app before you leave home. The Herald walks through refund rules.
Sources: Miami Herald, WPLG Local 10, NBC 6 South Florida, CBS Miami