US Airspace Reopens After Ground Stop as Officials Warn of Lingering Delays

WASHINGTON, Nov 14 (OPA) — The Federal Aviation Administration lifted its nationwide ground stop after a system-wide halt that left passengers stranded at airports across the United States. Although flights have resumed, aviation authorities cautioned that terminals are struggling to process the vast accumulation of delayed departures and arrivals.

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy stated that normal operations will return slowly and that the cascading disruptions will persist for days. Duffy attributed the failure to system overextension caused by decades of chronic underinvestment in air traffic control infrastructure. "Our control centers are active now, but the resumption of flights depends on available resources," Duffy said, adding that officials are actively reviewing weekend schedules to stabilize operations.

Department of Homeland Security officials confirmed that investigators found no evidence of a cyberattack related to the sudden nationwide shutdown. Robert L. Sumwalt, a former chairman of the National Transportation Safety Board, noted that such a widespread ground stop has no precedent in the U.S. since the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, calling the incident extraordinary for modern aviation.

U.S. air traffic control systems have long faced criticism for utilizing outdated technology and aging infrastructure. While Congress approved $12.5 billion last year to modernize these networks, aviation experts and lawmakers emphasize that billions more in sustained funding will be required to prevent future systemic failures.