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Telecom outage triggers rare nationwide FAA ground stop, stranding travelers

The rare nationwide ground stop, now lifted, paralyzed the U.S. air travel system Friday. Federal officials say telecommunication outages were to blame but offered few details.

Copyright 2026 NPR

Joel Rose is a correspondent on NPR's National Desk. As the network’s transportation correspondent since 2023, Rose’s reporting focuses on roadway and pedestrian safety, an air travel system under stress and how emerging technologies are changing the ways we get around.
Scott Simon is the host of Weekend Edition Saturday and is one of the hosts of NPR's morning news podcast Up First.
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