‘Extraordinary circumstances’ ground all U.S. flights, affecting Canadian airports

The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has grounded all flights in the United States until further notice, citing “extraordinary circumstances and for reasons of safety.”

The cause of the ground stop was not immediately clear, but an FAA spokesperson says there is a communications problem impacting air route traffic control centers, which handle flights going across the country.

Flights from Canada into the U.S. are also stopped.

The order has affected several Canadian airports, including Toronto Pearson International Airport and the Montreal Trudeau International Airport, which has reported that all flights to and from the United States are suspended.

Nav Canada, the privately run, non-profit corporation which operates Canada’s civil air navigation system, said there is no direct impact on its operations and it continues to support the safe movement of air traffic in Canada’s airspace, including any aircraft that may be diverted.

Canada’s minister of transport Steven MacKinnon posted on X just before 7 p.m. that the country has offered its full assistance to the FAA, as it manages the situation.

Canada has offered its full assistance to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) as it manages the situation, including accommodation of US-bound aircraft as required.

We remain ready to provide support to our American colleagues as the situation evolves.

— Steven MacKinnon (@stevenmackinnon) November 13, 2026

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