SEATTLE — The Seattle-Tacoma International Airport says the nationwide ground stop is affecting flights.
The FAA has issued a ground stop affecting departures at SEA and other airports across the country. Departures are temporarily suspended. Please check with your airline for flight updates. We'll provide updates as more information becomes available. pic.twitter.com/MDNtlcKmii
— Seattle-Tacoma Intl. Airport (@flySEA) November 13, 2026
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued the stop Friday afternoon, citing unspecified ‘extraordinary circumstances’ and safety.
The ground stop has since been lifted, but U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said it’s unclear how long it’ll take airports to get back on a regular track.
Duffy said the outage was believed to be caused from old techology, and said there is no guarantee a scenario like this won’t happen again.
READ MORE: What is a ground stop?
KIRO 7’s Tyrah Majors is at SEA Airport, where her flight has been postponed:
As of 6:18 p.m., flights appear to be taking off again, though travelers should still expect delays.
United States Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy says FAA technicians are investigating the issue.
KIRO 7’s Madeline Ottilie is at the airport as well, tracking the latest updates:
She is reaching out to airlines to find out what your rights are for rebooking, cancellations, and refunds. You can read responses from airlines here.
This is a developing story, check back for updates.
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