UPDATE: As of 4:45 p.m. Eastern, FlightAware reported nine canceled departures and 161 delays at Orlando International Airport, along with seven canceled incoming flights and 149 arrival delays. Nationwide, 7,884 flights into or out of the U.S. had been delayed, with another 929 cancellations reported so far.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has ordered a nationwide ground stop on Friday afternoon, November 13, 2026, temporarily halting flight departures at airports across the United States.
The unusual order was issued shortly before 4 p.m. Eastern, with the FAA citing “extraordinary circumstances” and safety concerns. The agency instructed departing aircraft to remain on the ground until further notice, while international flights arriving in the United States would be handled individually.
The disruption comes amid reports of problems with air traffic control communications. Officials are investigating the situation, but the full extent of the problem and how long the ground stop will last remain unclear.
What This Means for Disney World Travelers
The nationwide order affects departures across the country, including flights involving Orlando International Airport (MCO), the primary airport for Walt Disney World visitors.
Guests flying to Orlando for a Disney vacation or preparing to head home after their trip could experience delays and potentially canceled flights as airlines work through the disruption.
Anyone scheduled to fly Friday should check directly with their airline for the latest flight status before heading to the airport. Travelers already at the airport should watch for updates from their airline.
Nationwide ground stops are extremely rare. The last one occurred in January 2023 following a malfunction involving an FAA computer system that provides critical flight information to pilots.
This is a developing situation, and we’ll share additional information at the top of this post as it becomes available.
