The Federal Aviation Administration has brought all departing flights at U.S. airports to a complete standstill today, November 13, causing major disruptions for travelers at Miami (MIA), Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood (FLL) and Palm Beach (PBI) International Airports.
The nationwide ground stop took effect at 3:54 p.m. and is currently set to last until at least 11 p.m., although the FAA has cautioned that departing flights will remain grounded “until further notice.”
If you have a flight out of South Florida tonight, expect delays and cancellations. A ground stop holds planes at their origin airport, so flights bound for MIA or FLL from elsewhere in the country haven’t taken off yet either.
Inbound international flights will be managed on a case-by-case basis, according to the government agency. Pointing to “extraordinary circumstances and for reasons of safety,” the FAA attributed the halt to a widespread communications failure impacting multiple Air Route Traffic Control Centers.
Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy confirmed on X (formerly Twitter) that FAA technicians are investigating the issue and that immediate updates will be provided.
What travelers can do right now
- Check with your airline: Rely on your airline’s official app, website or text notifications for real-time flight statuses and automated rebooking tools.
- Don’t go to the airport: If you have an outbound flight tonight, do not head to the airport unless your airline gives you explicit confirmation that your flight is operating.
- Have your booking info ready: Customer service lines and apps will be overwhelmed. Keep your confirmation number immediately accessible to speed up the process when you get through the queue.
- Monitor official channels: Watch for real-time updates directly from the FAA and Secretary Duffy on Twitter.
Miami International Airport has urged travelers via social media to check their flight status directly with their airline before heading to the airport.
As we know more information, we will keep you updated.
