FAA lifts US ground stop. Belgian flight impacts remain unconfirmed

The FAA lifted its nationwide ground stop by 02:25 CET (UTC+1) on Saturday 14 November 2026, allowing US departures to resume. Airlines were still recovering from the air traffic control communications outage, with aircraft and crews out of position. 

Thousands of travellers across the United States were stranded after a ground stop that Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy blamed on faltering, ageing infrastructure.

More than 3,200 flights had already been cancelled across the United States by 08:30 EST (UTC-5) on Saturday, 14 November, as airlines worked to recover from Friday’s nationwide ground stop. The cancellations accounted for more than 14% of Saturday’s scheduled flights, according to aviation data firm Cirium.

On Friday, more than 8,200 flights were cancelled, representing over 31% of the day’s schedule. The Federal Aviation Administration halted departures for several hours after an air traffic control communications problem. US Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy attributed the disruption to ageing infrastructure.

The disruption also affected transatlantic services. By around 10:00 GMT on Saturday, FlightAware had recorded 19 cancellations and 22 delays on flights between London Heathrow and the United States.

Hundreds of passengers crowded into Terminal 1 at Chicago O’Hare on Saturday morning, many returning after Friday’s cancellations. At Los Angeles International Airport, some stranded travellers were still looking for replacement flights and overnight accommodation.

Brussels (BRU) and Liège (LGG)

The FAA decision lifts the nationwide hold on departures from the US. We did not find separate confirmation that EUROCONTROL ended its restriction on US-bound departures before the previously reported 06:00 Belgian time. Belgian passenger and cargo cancellation and delay totals remain unconfirmed, as does the status of Challenge Airlines BE’s 05:15 Liège–New York JFK freighter.

Brussels–Chicago disruption update: inbound flight also cancelled

Brussels Airport (BRU), Saturday 14 November. United Airlines flight UA972 from Chicago O’Hare was also cancelled, according to FlightStats, AirNav Radar and Aviability. It was due to leave Chicago at 00:50 CET and arrive in Brussels at 08:55 CET. The 10:10 CET Brussels–Chicago service, UA973, was reported cancelled in the earlier alert.

Sources: Associated Press · Live reporting on the lifting of the order apnews.com  · Associated Press on the European restriction · Cirium flight listing AP News · Plane Finder · Brussels Airlines SN 8804 Flight Tracker · NAMPA