On Friday, November 13th, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued a nationwide ground stop that grounded every domestic flight in the United States, including those scheduled to depart Boise Airport. The agency cited “extraordinary circumstances” and a communications problem affecting Air Route Traffic Control Centers, according to a statement posted by Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy on X (formerly Twitter). The order, released at 3:54 p.m. ET, required all airlines to keep aircraft on the ground until further notice, while flights already in the air were permitted to land at their destinations.
Boise travelers felt the impact immediately. KIVI TV reported that a passenger stranded on a Boise-bound plane was kept on the tarmac for more than an hour and was finally allowed to disembark around 3:15 p.m. An Idaho News 6 reporter observed that passengers continued to check in and pass through TSA security, but many faced delays and cancellations as airlines scrambled to adjust schedules.
The FAA confirmed that the ground stop applies to Boise Airport, stating, “Flights already en route to Boise will be allowed to land. Travelers should check directly with their airlines for the latest information about delays or cancellations.” The agency also noted that inbound international flights would be handled on a case‑by‑case basis.
Local union AFGE Local 1127, which represents TSA workers, warned that the longer the stoppage continues, the more challenging it will be to restore normal operations. “The longer the ground stoppage continues, the greater the challenges will be in restoring normal operations and getting the aviation system back on track,” the union said, urging passengers to remain patient with aviation staff.
This is not the first nationwide halt. The most recent prior to this event occurred in January 2023 when a pilot notification system failure forced a ground stop, and before that the last such action was after the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, as noted by Kidotalk Radio.
While the FAA has not set a specific end time, officials indicated the stop will remain in place until the communications issue is resolved. Travelers are advised to monitor airline communications and the Boise Airport website for real‑time updates.
What’s next: The FAA will lift the ground stop once the technical problem is fixed. Boise Airport officials recommend that passengers continue to check with their airlines for the latest flight status and remain prepared for possible cancellations or rescheduled departures.
Sources: kidotalkradio.com, kidotalkradio.com, kivitv.com
