The Federal Aviation Administration has issued a nationwide ground stop at all airports “due to extraordinary circumstances and for reasons of safety.”
According to the advisory from the FAA Friday, all aircraft operators were told “by order of the Federal Aviation Command Center” that airports were ground stopped and all departing traffic should remain grounded “until further notice.”
“Inbound flights will be managed on a case by case basis,” the alert stated.
Further details on the reason for the nationwide stop were not immediately clear.
U.S. Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy confirmed the ground stop saying it followed “a communication issue impacting all Air Route Traffic Control Centers.”
“FAA technicians are investigating the issue. We will provide immediate updates as we have them,” he said.
More than 200 flights were delayed at Chicago’s airports Friday afternoon.
As of 3:11 p.m., the Chicago Department of Aviation reported 213 delays at O’Hare International Airport and another 55 at Midway International Airport.
United Airlines, which is headquartered in Chicago, said it was responding to the ground stop and “flights that are already airborne will continue.”
“New domestic flights will not depart while the FAA ground stop remains in place,” the airline said. “United will work with our customers to get them to their destinations once this issue is resolved.”
Air traffic control transmissions indicated another update was expected around 10:30 p.m. CT.
Check back for more on this developing story.