4 min read · Updated 12:30 p.m. HST, Friday, Nov. 13, 2026 · By Scottie Kobayashi
Developing story. The FAA ground stop is still in effect as of 12:30 p.m. HST. I will update this page as the FAA and Hawaiʻi DOT share more.
Quick overviewTap to expand
- The FAA ordered a nationwide ground stop on departing flights at about 10:54 a.m. HST on Friday, Nov. 13, 2026, "due to extraordinary circumstances and for reasons of safety."
- Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy says the cause is a communication issue affecting all of the FAA's Air Route Traffic Control Centers.
- Hawaiʻi DOT Director Ed Sniffen says interisland and international flights in Hawaiʻi will continue. Flights to and from the mainland are on hold.
- Flights already in the air can land. There is no end time yet, and delays will likely last after the stop is lifted.
- Here's the move: check your airline app before you leave home, and don't cancel a mainland trip yourself. If the airline cancels, you are owed a refund if you choose not to rebook.
The FAA ground stop announced today halts flights between Hawaiʻi and the mainland, but interisland and international flights from Hawaiʻi are still operating. If you're flying to the West Coast or Vegas today, expect to sit and wait. If you're hopping to Maui or Kauaʻi, you should be okay. Here's what we know so far.
What happened with the FAA ground stop today?
At about 10:54 a.m. Hawaiʻi time on Friday, Nov. 13, 2026, the FAA's Air Traffic Control System Command Center ordered every U.S. airport to hold departing flights "until further notice." The advisory cited "extraordinary circumstances" and safety. Flights already in the air are allowed to land, and inbound international flights are being handled case by case. By Friday afternoon, FlightAware was tracking at least 8,000 delays and 400 cancellations nationwide, according to CBS News.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said the stop followed "a communication issue impacting all Air Route Traffic Control Centers," the regional centers that guide planes between airports. He said FAA technicians are investigating. Shortly before the nationwide order, the FAA had already halted traffic at Chicago's airports over air traffic control communication problems, and flight crews were reporting radio frequency issues.
Are interisland and international flights from Hawaiʻi still flying?
Yes. Hawaiʻi Department of Transportation Director Ed Sniffen told KHON2 that interisland and international flights will continue. According to Sniffen, the FAA said the communications problem is affecting flights in the continental U.S., so everything "going to and from CONUS" (the continental U.S.) is ground stopped.
| Your flight | Status as of 12:30 p.m. HST | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Interisland (HNL, OGG, KOA, LIH, ITO) | Operating, per HDOT | Go as planned, but check your app for knock-on delays |
| Hawaiʻi to Japan, Asia or the South Pacific | Operating, per HDOT | Check your airline app before you leave home |
| Hawaiʻi to the mainland | On hold | Stay home until your airline posts a new time |
| Mainland to Hawaiʻi | On hold at departure airport | ʻOhana coming home should watch their airline app |
| Already in the air | Allowed to land | Nothing to do |
Interisland flights can still pick up delays today. Airlines that use the same planes or crews on mainland and interisland routes may run behind schedule, so check your flight status even if you're only going to a neighbor island.
What should I do if I'm flying to the mainland today?
Don't rush to the airport and don't cancel anything yourself yet. A ground stop pauses departures, and most flights go once it lifts. If you cancel before the airline does, you can lose your right to a refund. Here's the order I'd follow:
- Check your airline app first. Hawaiian, Alaska, Southwest, United, Delta and American usually post new times and rebooking options in the app first.
- Turn on push alerts. When the stop lifts, flights get released fast and seats on later flights fill up.
- If your airline cancels, you choose. Under U.S. Department of Transportation rules, you can take a free rebooking or ask for a full refund to your original payment if you decide not to travel.
- Save every receipt. If the delay runs long, meals, a hotel night or a rideshare home may be covered by your airline or by the trip delay coverage on the card you used to book.
- Already at HNL? If you have lounge access, now's the time to use it. See my HNL lounge guide for what's open and who gets in.
Check whether the card you booked with includes trip delay coverage. Many travel credit cards reimburse meals and hotels once a delay passes a set number of hours, often 6 or 12. You usually have to pay for the trip with that card, so look up your card's benefits guide before you spend.
If your mainland trip gets pushed or canceled, my guide to flying to the mainland from Hawaiʻi covers which airlines fly where, so you can spot other ways to get there once flights restart.
How rare is a nationwide ground stop?
Very rare. Today is only the second nationwide ground stop of all departures since the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks. The last one was in January 2023, when an outage of the FAA's pilot notification system (NOTAM) halted domestic departures for less than two hours. That one also left delays rippling through the rest of the day.
Scottie's Take
First thing, don't panic. For us in Hawaiʻi this is mostly a mainland problem today. If you're going to Maui for the weekend or flying to Japan, you're in good shape for now. If you're heading to LA or Vegas, grab a coffee and keep your phone close.
The big mistake I see in situations like this is people canceling their own flight in a rush. Let the airline make the call. When they cancel, you get choices. When you cancel, you usually get a credit. And this is a good reminder of why I always book flights with a card that has solid trip delay coverage. You never need it until a day like today.
I'm watching this closely and will update the page as soon as the FAA lifts the stop. Are you stuck at HNL or waiting on ʻohana trying to get home? Drop a comment or send me a message and let me know how it's going. Hang in there, everybody. 🤙
FAQ
Are interisland flights in Hawaiʻi grounded today?
No. As of 12:30 p.m. HST on Nov. 13, 2026, Hawaiʻi DOT Director Ed Sniffen said interisland flights will continue. The FAA ground stop is aimed at flights in the continental U.S. Interisland flights can still pick up knock-on delays, so check your airline app before you head out.
Can I still fly from Hawaiʻi to Japan today?
According to Hawaiʻi DOT, international flights from Hawaiʻi are continuing. The FAA says inbound international flights to the U.S. are being handled case by case, so return trips could see delays. Check your airline's app for your specific flight before going to the airport.
Why did the FAA ground all flights?
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said the ground stop followed a communication issue affecting all of the FAA's Air Route Traffic Control Centers, which guide planes between airports. The FAA advisory cited "extraordinary circumstances and for reasons of safety." FAA technicians are investigating, and no other cause has been announced.
When will flights to the mainland resume?
The FAA has said the ground stop stays in place "until further notice" and has not given an end time. Even once it lifts, expect delays and some cancellations through the evening and possibly into Saturday, while airlines get planes and crews back where they need to be.
Do I get a refund if my flight is canceled?
If the airline cancels your flight and you choose not to travel, U.S. Department of Transportation rules say you are entitled to a refund to your original form of payment. If you cancel on your own before the airline does, you may only get a credit, so wait for the airline to act first.
Does my credit card cover delays from the ground stop?
It might. Many travel credit cards include trip delay coverage that pays for meals, hotels and essentials once a delay passes a set number of hours, often 6 or 12. You usually need to have paid for the trip with that card. Check your card's benefits guide and keep every receipt.
Sources: KHON2 (HDOT Director Ed Sniffen), Honolulu Star-Advertiser, CNN, CNBC, NBC News, The Hill and the FAA Air Traffic Control System Command Center advisory, Nov. 13, 2026. This is a developing story and details may change.
