Updated, 5:20 p.m.
WASHINGTON, DC — The Federal Aviation Administration halted flights nationwide Friday afternoon following a temporary telecommunications outage, prompting delays and disruptions at the Washington-Baltimore region's three major airports.
The ground stop affects Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport, Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport and Washington Dulles International Airport.
"There has been a temporary telecommunications outage — out of an abundance of caution all flights have been halted," the FAA said in an update on X.
The agency said every flight had been accounted for and international flights would be handled individually.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said the communications problem affected all Air Route Traffic Control Centers nationwide. FAA technicians were investigating the issue.
Check live cancellations and delays by airport:
BWI officials confirmed that departing flights were being held until further notice because of the nationwide ground stop.
"Due to an equipment issue, the FAA has issued a nationwide ground stop," BWI said in an alert. "Departing flights are currently being held until further notice."
Reagan National and Dulles also issued alerts warning passengers to expect flight delays. Both airports said their facilities remained open despite the restrictions.
All three airports urged travelers to check directly with their airlines before heading to the airport.
An FAA advisory cited extraordinary circumstances and safety concerns as reasons for the nationwide restriction.
The advisory instructed departing flights to remain grounded until further notice, with international arrivals handled on a case-by-case basis.
This is the first nationwide ground stop since January 2023, when a key FAA computer system malfunctioned. Before that, the last time was after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks.
The FAA had not announced when the nationwide ground stop would be lifted.
Although the agency described the telecommunications outage as temporary, it had not provided an estimated time for restoring normal flight operations.
Travelers should continue monitoring their airlines for flight status changes, including possible delays and cancellations after the ground stop ends.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
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