When you hear “US flights are grounded,” it usually means the FAA has issued a ground stop for safety. That can happen for several reasons:
- A major system outage, like the NOTAM failure that caused a nationwide ground stop in 2023.
- Severe weather (hurricanes, Nor’easters, thunderstorms) that makes takeoffs or landings unsafe at key hubs.
- Air-traffic control staffing shortages or airspace capacity limits that mean too many planes are trying to move through the same region.
A ground stop doesn’t always affect every airport, but it can ripple nationwide because aircraft and crews end up out of position. To see what’s happening right now, check the FAA’s National Airspace System Status, then confirm with your airline’s travel service. If you’re already at the airport, head to airport services or your airline’s counter to discuss rebooking, compensation policies, and help with essential arrangements.