FAA Outage vs. 2023 NOTAM Failure: A Detailed Comparison

FAA Outage vs. 2023 NOTAM Failure: A Detailed Comparison

A significant nationwide ground stop on November 13, 2026, brought air travel to a standstill for over four hours. This event brings to mind a similar, though distinct, incident from January 11, 2023, when the FAA’s NOTAM system failed. While both events resulted in widespread flight disruptions, understanding their differences in cause, impact, and aftermath is crucial for appreciating the complexities of air traffic management. This analysis will compare these two major FAA disruptions, examining what failed, what was halted, how long each lasted, the number of flights affected, their causes, and the changes that followed.

What Failed in Each Incident

The 2023 NOTAM outage involved a critical system for pilots. The Notice to Air Missions (NOTAM) system is a database that provides essential information to pilots about potential hazards, such as closed runways, equipment failures, or changes in airport services. It is a vital safety information feed. When this system failed late on January 10, 2023, and a simple reboot did not resolve the issue, the FAA made the decision to hold all domestic departures until the system’s data could be verified.

In contrast, the November 13, 2026, event affected a different layer of the air traffic control infrastructure. Officials reported that the problem impacted “all Air Route Traffic Control Centers,” which are the facilities responsible for guiding aircraft between airports. Homeland Security Secretary Mullin described it as a “telecommunication outage throughout the FAA.” The FAA itself characterized it as a “temporary telecommunications outage,” and flights were grounded out of an “abundance of caution.” While a cyberattack was ruled out, the specific system that failed has not been publicly named.

What Was Halted During Each Disruption

Both the 2023 NOTAM failure and the 2026 telecommunications outage led to nationwide ground stops, meaning departures were halted across the country. However, neither event resulted in the closure of U.S. airspace itself. In 2023, the FAA held all domestic departures until approximately 9 a.m. Eastern Time. The 2026 ground stop was more complex; an advisory from the Command Center indicated that all airports were grounded, with departing traffic instructed to remain on the ground “until further notice.” Inbound international flights were managed on a case-by-case basis. The 2026 ground stop was not a complete freeze for its entire duration. After 6 p.m. Eastern Time, the FAA allowed flights to depart if coordinated with the Command Center, and some West Coast flights resumed before the order was fully canceled at 8:15 p.m. Eastern Time. The only time U.S. airspace has been entirely closed was on September 11, 2001, when all aircraft were ordered to land, and no new flights were permitted to take off.

How Long Each Disruption Lasted

The duration of the ground stop orders differed significantly between the two events. The November 13, 2026, ground stop lasted for approximately 4 hours and 20 minutes. The order was issued at 3:53 p.m. Eastern Time and was canceled at 8:15 p.m. Eastern Time, impacting the busy afternoon and evening travel period. The 2023 NOTAM outage, while the system was down for several hours, resulted in a hold on departures for about 90 minutes, concluding around 9 a.m. Eastern Time, before the main rush of the day’s flying.

The Number of Flights Affected

The impact on flight schedules was substantial in both cases, though the numbers varied. On November 13, 2026, flight-tracking data indicated around 4,467 U.S. flight cancellations and 10,079 U.S. flight delays by about 9 p.m. Eastern Time. Other reports suggested over 10,000 disrupted flights in total, with about 600 diversions. For the 2023 NOTAM outage, flight tracking showed more than 1,300 cancellations and over 11,000 delays by the end of that day. While the number of delays was similar, the 2026 event resulted in more than three times the number of cancellations, and this figure was still expected to rise. Some airlines announced further cancellations into the weekend following the November 13 incident.

The Causes and Disclosures

The level of transparency and detail regarding the cause differed greatly. In 2023, the FAA provided a clear explanation within about a week of the outage. A preliminary review found that contract personnel had unintentionally deleted files while attempting to fix a synchronization issue between the primary NOTAM database and its backup. The FAA stated there was no evidence of a cyberattack or malicious intent and took action to revoke system access for the individuals involved.

For the 2026 event, the public record is less complete. While officials quickly ruled out a cyberattack, the FAA has not identified the specific system that failed. The FAA acknowledged that the equipment involved “is going to continue to fail.” Investigations into the cause were ongoing, and while some speculated about potential links to new systems, officials stated that the ground stop was not a direct result of the FAA’s new SMART routing tool.

Changes Implemented Afterward

The 2023 NOTAM failure prompted significant action from the FAA. The agency initiated a program to replace the legacy NOTAM platform with a new cloud-based NOTAM Management Service, which was reported to be operational by September 2025, with the older system being retired in phases. This was a direct response to the identified data system issue.

As of the analysis date, no equivalent reforms have been announced for the 2026 telecommunications outage, primarily because the specific failed system has not been named. However, this incident occurred in the context of other reported equipment problems, such as radar outages at Newark and O’Hare airports. These ongoing issues raise questions about the FAA’s aging air traffic control equipment.

Traveler Rights and Refunds

The rules regarding passenger refunds have evolved between the two events. The Department of Transportation’s automatic refund rule, which requires airlines to provide a cash refund when a flight is canceled or significantly changed and the passenger rejects alternative arrangements, took effect on October 28, 2024. This rule was not in place during the January 2023 NOTAM outage. A significant change is defined as a delay of three or more hours for domestic flights or six or more hours for international flights. The rule applies regardless of the cause of the disruption, including FAA outages. While airlines are not federally required to cover expenses like hotels and meals when disruptions are outside their control, some airlines offered waivers or flexible rebooking options following the November 13, 2026, event. Visitors who are unable to depart the U.S. due to such an emergency may be able to request an extension of their authorized stay.

Conclusion: Comparing the Impacts

By metrics most relevant to travelers, the November 13, 2026, ground stop was the larger event. It lasted nearly three times longer, occurred during a peak travel period, and resulted in more than three times the number of cancellations compared to the 2023 NOTAM outage. However, the 2023 incident offers a more complete story due to its identified cause and subsequent reform program. The 2026 event remains less explained, pending the FAA’s identification of the failed system. Neither event approaches the scale of September 11, 2001, when U.S. airspace was completely closed. The 2026 event represents the larger of the two nationwide ground stops and is currently the less understood.

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