From Houstonchronicle · · 2m
Flights Resume at Houston Airports
Houston airports resume flights after nationwide ground stop.
In brief
Houston airports resume flights after nationwide ground stop. Houston airports resume flights after nationwide ground stop, but delays and cancellations continue through the weekend. Originally reported by Houstonchronicle.
Ground stop issued
Flights were halted across the United States due to unspecified 'extraordinary circumstances' on Friday, Nov. 13, 2026.
Airports affected
Travelers stranded at George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston and other U.S. airports.
Cause of outage
U.S. Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy said an 'incredibly old' air traffic control system got overloaded with data.
Ground stop lifted
FAA lifted nationwide ground stop allowing flights to resume at Houston airports Friday night.
Flight delays continue
Airlines report delays and cancellations will continue through the weekend as they recover schedules.
United Airlines response
United Airlines resumed operations with some Friday night flights and advised travelers to check flight status.
Houston airports thank supporters
Bush and Hobby airports thanked Mayor John Whitmire, Houston Metro and Houston First Corporation for support during ground stop.
Travelers affected
Passengers stranded at Houston airports faced delays, cancellations and difficulty finding transportation options.
Sports impacted
Texas football team delayed travel to LSU game due to ground stop.
International flights
Some international flights allowed to depart on a case-by-case basis while domestic flights delayed.
Airlines issue waivers
United and Delta issued travel waivers for flights delayed on Thursday and Friday.
Investigation ongoing
Officials investigating causes of communication outage with no timeline for resolution.
Passenger stories
Travelers described anxiety and uncertainty about ground stop duration and impact.
FAA communication issue
FAA said communication issues began around 2:36 p.m. causing air traffic control system to shut down.
Funding needed
Secretary of Homeland Security Markwayne Mullin estimated $50 billion funding needed to prevent future outages.
No timeline for recovery
No timeline for when flights will resume as airlines recover schedules.
The short version
Houston airports resume flights after nationwide ground stop, but delays and cancellations continue through the weekend.
