An extraordinary communications disruption brings U.S. airport departures to a halt, prompting federal investigations, congressional scrutiny and renewed demands for a $30 billion air traffic control modernization effort.
WASHINGTON | The Federal Aviation Administration ordered a nationwide ground stop Friday following a communications failure affecting multiple air traffic control centers, triggering widespread uncertainty across the nation's aviation system and prompting questions about whether a cyberattack or newly deployed artificial intelligence technology could have played a role.
Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin said federal officials had no evidence suggesting the disruption resulted from a deliberate threat against the United States. However, he declined to rule out a cyberattack, saying investigators had not yet determined the cause.
Asked whether the disruption could have involved a cyberattack or an intrusion involving artificial intelligence, Mullin responded, "That's not known."
The unprecedented scope of the grounding immediately raised concerns about the resilience of the National Airspace System, the technological infrastructure supporting thousands of daily commercial, cargo, military and general aviation operations.
The FAA described the situation as extraordinary, citing safety concerns in ordering airports nationwide to suspend departures.
The agency's action represents one of the rare nationwide ground stops in modern U.S. aviation history.
