Stuck on the tarmac without information: Travelers share their ground stop experiences

NPR | By Erika Ryan,

Adam Raney, Tyler Bartlam

Published November 13, 2026 at 5:36 PM EST

Passengers stuck on airplanes on tarmacs across the country during the FAA ground stop on Friday share their stories.

Related Content

DHS head Markwayne Mullin says there is not a threat to the U.S. amid FAA ground stop

Deepa Shivaram

Department of Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin spoke to at the White House on Friday afternoon after the FAA issues a total ground stop. NPR was there for the briefing.
GOP state officials push to revive Trump's mail voting restrictions for 2028 election

Hansi Lo Wang

Some Republican state officials are reviving a bid for mail-in voting restrictions for the 2028 election by appealing a court order blocking the Postal Service from carrying out a revised ballot rule.
Here's what the FAA's ground stop looks like at Washington Dulles International Airport

Sarah Handel, Scott Detrow

The FAA has issued a nationwide ground stop. NPR's Sacha Pfeiffer talks with Tom Lintner, the former head of air traffic investigations with FAA and air traffic controller, who has a view of Dulles.
National

FAA issues nationwide ground stop for all U.S. airports

Joel Rose, Juliana Kim, Bill Chappell

The FAA has issued a nationwide ground stop for all U.S. airports following a "communication issue impacting all Air Route Traffic Control Centers," according to Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy.
With his challenge to Schumer, Van Hollen forces a debate over Democrats' mandate

Elena Moore

Democrats say they have a mandate to deliver change, but as the party gets ready to retake the majority in both the House and Senate, there are divides over who should lead it.

You make NHPR possible.

NHPR is nonprofit and independent. We rely on readers like you to support the local, national, and international coverage on this website. Your support makes this news available to everyone.

Give today. A monthly donation of $5 makes a real difference.