Edward Marchesi The Federal Aviation Administration , the U.S. air traffic control authority, has ordered a nationwide grounding due to extraordinary circumstances. This is an exceptional measure, adopted only once since September 11th. All flights must be grounded until further notice , for safety reasons.
A communications failure is behind the grounding of flights.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy explained that the measure stems from a communications issue affecting all air traffic control centers. Interior Secretary Markwayne Mullin stated that while no possibility can be ruled out, the situation is not reminiscent of the September 11 attacks.
At this time, the FBI has not reported any indications of a cyber attack or crime.
The National Weather Service also experienced internet and communications issues. On its website, the agency warned that users may be unable to access data while technicians work to resolve the issue. The FAA's air traffic control website was also down, with dozens of messages disappearing from the page.
Airports disrupted and flights from Italy
In Chicago, O'Hare Airport was disrupted. Some taxiing planes attempted to return to their gates to disembark passengers, but there was no room, and other aircraft were stuck on the runways with no room to maneuver. A passenger heading to New York with her seventeen-year-old daughter, who was visiting several colleges, found her flight interrupted on that very runway.
The effects are also being felt outside the United States. In the United Kingdom, the 22:30 PM flight from Heathrow to New York JFK was canceled. Four flights to the US departed from Fiumicino Airport, to Dallas, Atlanta, Denver, and New York, which were already in flight when the ban was triggered. Other flights to the US departed from Catania, Milan Malpensa, and Milan. According to monitoring sites, approximately 3.100 planes were en route to US airports, while no others took off.
The Farnesina and the Italian Embassy in Washington are monitoring the situation in coordination with local authorities. Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani has been informed and is following developments. President Donald Trump , according to Mullin, is constantly updated on the evolving situation.