FAA Ground Stop and Your Essential Refund Rights

Last updated November 15, 2026

A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) ground stop halted all US departures for over four hours on November 13, 2026. Canceled flyers may get cash back.

Key Points

• A communications failure at air traffic control centers stopped all US departures on Friday afternoon.
• Flights restarted after about 8:15 p.m. Eastern Time, but delays and cancellations rolled into the weekend.
• If your airline canceled your flight and you choose not to rebook, federal rules say you get your money back.

What Happened During the Nationwide Ground Stop

The aviation agency stopped every departure across the United States late Friday afternoon. Planes already in the air kept flying and landed safely, CBS News reported.

The cause was a telecommunications failure. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said overloaded routers sent mixed-up data between control centers. He called it “an incredibly old air traffic control system.”

The airspace reopened at about 8:15 p.m. Eastern Time, according to the Irish Times. Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin said there were no signs of a cyberattack.

On November 14, Duffy said a faulty router may have caused the failure. A crew from contractor L3Harris was swapping old copper lines for fiber at the time, Scripps News reported.

The router flooded the network with more than 1,000 connection attempts every few seconds. Federal Aviation Administration chief Bryan Bedford said there was “zero evidence of anything nefarious.”

How Many Flights Were Hit

The numbers are still moving, and flight trackers do not agree. Here is what each one counted, as reported on November 14.

The gap comes from different time windows and methods. Either way, the disruption touched millions of travelers.

Refund Rights After the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Ground Stop

Here is the most useful part for travelers. The cause of the cancellation does not matter for a refund.

The Department of Transportation says airlines must refund you if they cancel your flight for any reason. That applies when you decline the new flight or other offer they give you.

The same rule covers big schedule changes. A domestic flight that moves by 3 hours or more counts. For international trips, the line is 6 hours.

• How you get paid. The refund must go back as cash or to your original card, unless you agree to a voucher.
• How fast. Card refunds are due within 7 business days. Other payment types get 20 calendar days.
• What is included. You get the full fare plus taxes and fees, minus any part of the trip you used.

There is one catch. If you accept a rebooked flight, you are no longer owed that refund.

What Airlines Do Not Have to Pay

Meals and hotels are a different story. Airline promises for those apply to delays the airline itself causes, says the federal dashboard.

Its examples include crew problems, maintenance, cleaning and fueling. A government air traffic outage is generally not on that list. Still, it never hurts to ask the gate agent politely.

Why It Matters

The timing worries many families. Thanksgiving travel is less than two weeks away. Duffy said he expects normal operations by then, Al Jazeera reported.

He also called for about $50 billion in upgrades to the air traffic control system. For travelers, the lesson is simple. Know your rights before the next disruption.

If you are flying for the holidays, check our guide to the busiest Thanksgiving travel days. Packing light also helps when you need to switch flights fast, as our carry-on packing guide explains.

What to Do If Your Flight Was Canceled

• Check your airline app or email for the cancellation notice
• Decide if you want a new flight or your money back
• Choose the refund option instead of a voucher if you want cash
• Save your booking number, receipts and screenshots
• Track the refund date against the 7 or 20 day limit

Late refund? File a complaint on the official Department of Transportation complaint page.

Booking ahead for December? See when to book Christmas flights.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I get a refund if the ground stop canceled my flight?

Yes. Federal rules say airlines must refund a canceled flight for any reason. You must decline the rebooking or other offer they give you.

Will the airline pay for my hotel after the ground stop?

Usually not. Hotel and meal promises cover delays the airline causes. An air traffic outage is generally outside the airline’s control.

How long does a flight refund take?

Card refunds are due within 7 business days. Refunds paid other ways must arrive within 20 calendar days.

This article is for information only and is not legal advice.

Editor’s Note

This story is accurate as of November 15, 2026. Flight counts were still changing, and trackers reported different totals. Refund rules come from the Department of Transportation and could be updated later.

Spot an error in this article? Please contact us at support@digieh.com or read our Corrections Policy.

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