Not all flights are grounded at once, but when they are, it affects entire airports or airspace regions

A full ground stop — where no flights can take off or land — is rare and temporary. It happens when a specific airport, region, or the entire U.S. airspace faces a safety or operational crisis that makes flying unsafe or impossible. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issues the order, and it can last anywhere from minutes to several hours. When one happens, every airline at that airport stops departures until the FAA lifts the order.

Most flight delays you see are not ground stops. They are weather delays, mechanical issues, or staffing problems that affect individual flights or airlines. A ground stop is different: it is a blanket halt that affects everyone at once, regardless of airline or destination.

Key Takeaways

  • The FAA issues ground stops when safety or operations require all flights to stop at a specific airport or region, and these orders are temporary and rare.
  • Common causes include severe weather, air traffic control staffing shortages, runway closures, and system outages at major airports.
  • You can check the FAA's website or your airline's app to see whether a ground stop is in effect at your departure or arrival airport.
  • If your flight is grounded, your airline must rebook you on the next available flight at no extra charge, or refund your ticket if you choose not to fly.
  • Ground stops usually last under two hours, but severe weather or major system failures can extend them longer.

What triggers a full ground stop

The FAA orders a ground stop when conditions make takeoffs or landings unsafe or impossible. Severe thunderstorms with lightning, heavy snow, or wind gusts above safe landing limits are the most common weather triggers. A single severe storm cell moving over a major airport like Atlanta or Chicago can ground hundreds of flights in minutes.

Air traffic control staffing shortages also cause ground stops, especially at busy airports during peak hours. If the control tower does not have enough controllers to safely manage the volume of planes in the air, the FAA stops new departures until the workload drops. System outages — when radar, communication systems, or computer networks fail — force ground stops because controllers cannot safely guide planes without them.

Runway closures from debris, accidents, or construction can trigger ground stops if an airport has only one or two runways and loses one temporarily. A plane that slides off the runway or an object on the tarmac can shut down operations until the runway is cleared and inspected.

How to learn about flights are grounded right now

The FAA publishes active ground stops on its website at faa.gov. Go to the "Delays and Cancellations" section and look for "Ground Stops" — it lists every airport or region with an active order, the reason, and when it was issued. The page updates in real time.

Your airline's app or website also shows ground stop information, usually under "Flight Status" or "Delays." Most airlines display the reason and estimated time the ground stop will be lifted. If you are at the airport, the departure board will show your flight as delayed and may list the reason.

FlightAware and other flight-tracking apps also display ground stop information, though the FAA's official page is the most current source.

What happens to your flight during a ground stop

Your flight stays at the gate or remains on the ground at its origin airport. Planes already in the air continue to their destination, but no new planes can take off. Your airline will hold your flight in line for departure and push back from the gate as soon as the FAA lifts the ground stop order.

You are not required to stay on the plane during a ground stop. If the delay is expected to be long, the airline may let passengers deplane and wait in the terminal. Ask a flight attendant or gate agent whether you can leave the aircraft.

If the ground stop lasts more than a few hours and your flight is cancelled as a result, your airline must rebook you on the next available flight to your destination at no extra charge. If no flights are available that day, the airline must offer you a refund or a flight the next day. You are also may have access to to meals and hotel accommodations if the delay or cancellation is the airline's responsibility, though ground stops caused by weather or air traffic control issues are usually considered outside the airline's control.

How long ground stops usually last

Most ground stops last under two hours. A severe thunderstorm moves through an airport, the FAA issues the order, and once the storm passes and visibility improves, the FAA lifts it and flights resume. Staffing shortages that trigger ground stops usually clear within an hour or two as more controllers arrive or the traffic volume drops.

System outages can last longer if the FAA has to restart equipment or switch to backup systems. A major radar or communication failure might ground flights for two to four hours while technicians work. Runway closures depend on how long cleanup or repairs take — a debris field might clear in 30 minutes, but an accident investigation could keep a runway closed for hours.

Severe winter storms or hurricanes can cause ground stops that last most of a day, though these are uncommon. The FAA lifts ground stops in phases: it may allow some flights to resume before others, depending on which runways or airspace is safe first.

Your rights when a ground stop affects your flight

If your flight is cancelled because of a ground stop, you have the right to a refund or a rebooking. The airline must rebook you on the next available flight to your destination at no extra charge, even if it is on a different airline. If no flights are available that day, the airline must offer you a refund or a flight the next day.

If the ground stop is caused by weather or air traffic control issues, the airline is usually not required to pay for meals, hotels, or other expenses. These are considered "acts beyond the airline's control." If the ground stop is caused by an airline's own system failure or staffing problem, you may be may have access to to compensation, though this varies by airline policy and is not required by federal law.

Keep your boarding pass and any receipts for meals or transportation if you incur expenses during a long ground stop. If you believe the airline should cover these costs, you can file a complaint with the airline's customer service department or contact the Department of Transportation.

The difference between a ground stop and other delays

A ground stop affects all flights at an airport or region at the same time. A weather delay affects only flights that cannot depart safely in current conditions — some airlines might operate while others do not, depending on their aircraft type and destination. A mechanical delay affects a single plane. A staffing delay might affect one airline more than another.

Ground stops are also usually shorter than other delays. A weather delay might last all day if a storm system is slow-moving, but a ground stop lifts as soon as the FAA determines it is safe to resume operations. If you see "Ground Stop in Effect" on your airline's app, expect your flight to move within the next hour or two in most cases.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I get a refund if my flight is cancelled because of a ground stop?

Yes. If your flight is cancelled, you can request a full refund of your ticket price, or the airline must rebook you on the next available flight to your destination at no extra charge. You do not have to accept a rebooking if you prefer the refund. Contact your airline's customer service to request either option.

Will I be compensated for missing a connection because of a ground stop?

If the ground stop causes you to miss a connection, the airline must rebook you on the next available flight to your final destination at no extra charge. Federal law does not require the airline to pay monetary compensation for delays caused by weather or air traffic control issues, even if you miss a connection.

What if I am already on a plane when a ground stop is issued?

If your plane is already in the air, it will land at its destination as scheduled. Ground stops prevent new departures but do not affect planes already flying. If your plane is at the gate preparing to push back, it will wait until the FAA lifts the ground stop before taking off.

How do I know if a ground stop will affect my flight tomorrow?

Ground stops are issued for when ready conditions and do not extend to future days. Check the FAA's website or your airline's app the day of your flight to see whether a ground stop is in effect. You can also call your airline to confirm your flight status before heading to the airport.

Can airlines prevent ground stops?

No. Only the FAA can issue a ground stop, and only when safety or operational conditions require it. Airlines cannot override or prevent a ground stop order. Once the FAA lifts the order, airlines resume normal operations as quickly as possible.