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The FAA halted U.S. departures nationwide after an air traffic control communications outage, then lifted the stop Friday night.

The FAA said communications problems affected air traffic control centers and that technicians were investigating; officials attributed the outage to a telecommunications problem and said they had found no indication of an attack. Flights resumed after the stop was lifted, but delays and cancellations continued as airlines worked to restore schedules.

What the reports agree on

  • The FAA ordered a nationwide ground stop for departing flights on Friday. Newsweek, The Hill, PBS NewsHour, CBS News and 4 more
  • The stop followed communications problems affecting air traffic control centers. Newsweek, The Hill, PBS NewsHour, ABC News and 4 more
  • Officials said technicians were investigating the problem. Newsweek, The Hill, PBS NewsHour, ABC News and 2 more
  • The FAA lifted the ground stop Friday evening, and flights were allowed to depart again. Axios, CBS News, The Hill, France24 and 2 more
  • Officials said they had no indication of a malicious or cyberattack. The Hill, CBS News, Guardian World, BBC US and 2 more

Where reports differ

  • FlightAware reported 3,395 cancellations and 1,008 delays for U.S.-related flights by early Saturday. Newsweek
  • FlightAware recorded more than 8,500 delayed flights and nearly 8,000 cancellations on Friday. BBC US
  • FlightAware reported more than 10,000 domestic delays and 4,000 cancellations by 7:15 p.m. ET Friday. Axios

Reported by one outlet

  • The FAA said incoming international flights would be handled case by case. Guardian World
  • The Hill reported that Baylor, Kansas State, Utah and Arizona State were among the college football teams whose travel was affected. The Hill

The original reports

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