PANAMA · AVIATION
On Friday 13 November 2026, the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the national aviation regulator, stopped all takeoffs across the United States. The nationwide ground stop began at about 3:54 p.m. Eastern time, and the FAA said on the same Friday evening that it had lifted it.
Copa Airlines, the Panama-based airline, then offered a waiver to passengers flying to or from the United States. Delays are expected to ripple through the weekend of 14 and 15 November, so travellers on these routes should check their bookings.
Key Facts
- Ground stop All US takeoffs halted from about 3:54 p.m. to 8:15 p.m. Eastern on 13 November.
- Copa waiver No change fee and no fare difference on eligible US routes for travel on 13 and 14 November.
- Deadlines Copa passengers must request changes by 17 November and fly the new trip by 22 November.
- Cause Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, the US official overseeing aviation, blames overloaded routers in ageing equipment; root cause is not confirmed.
- Power Index Panama ranks 11th of 14 in The Rio Times Latin America Power Index, with 33.3 points (November 2026 edition).
A halt to US takeoffs lasting more than four hours has left aircraft and crews out of position. Copa Airlines is letting affected passengers rebook without fees.
What Happened
The FAA issued the ground stop, an order halting all takeoffs, at about 3:54 p.m. Eastern time on Friday 13 November 2026. It announced at 8:15 p.m. Eastern that the stop was lifted, after more than four hours.
The FAA said: “Before clearing flights to resume, we thoroughly tested our systems to confirm they were stable and that operations remain reliable.” Flights resumed, but recovery will take time.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, the cabinet official who oversees US aviation, blamed overloaded routers in the FAA’s ageing air traffic control system. He said the FAA’s routers were overloaded with data, and that the problem did not involve a total loss of radar or communications.
Duffy said the FAA is still working out what went wrong. Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin said there was no indication that the issues were a threat to the United States, though he added that nothing was completely certain.
What Copa Airlines Is Offering
Copa Airlines announced a waiver, reported in Panama on 13 November 2026, for tickets issued through 13 November. It covers travel scheduled on 13 and 14 November on routes to or from the United States, excluding Puerto Rico.
Under Copa’s announcement, there is no change fee and no fare difference. Passengers must request changes by 17 November 2026 and fly the rebooked trip by 22 November 2026.
Changes are made through “Mis Viajes” (My Trips) on the Copa website or app. Copa applies no change fee and no fare difference to these changes.
In Plain English
A ground stop is an order that keeps planes on the ground at their departure airports. Air traffic control is the service that guides aircraft and keeps them safely apart.
Why It Matters
Aircraft and crews displaced during the stop of more than four hours can delay later flights even after the system is stable. Delays are expected to ripple through the weekend of 14 and 15 November.
It was the first nationwide US ground stop since January 2023, when an FAA computer system for pilot notices failed. Travellers between the United States and Panama on 13 and 14 November are among those most directly affected.
What to Watch Next
Copa’s announcement sets two dates: 17 November 2026 for change requests and 22 November 2026 for flying the rebooked trip. Passengers who miss either date fall outside the waiver.
The FAA and the Transportation Department have yet to give a full account of what failed. Follow the wider regional story in our Panama news coverage.
What Is Not Known
We could not open Copa’s own notice, so the terms above come from reports in Panama of its announcement. The number of Copa flights affected is not confirmed.
Reports differ widely on the total number of US cancellations, so we give no figure. The exact system that failed, the root cause and the exact start time of the failure, which Duffy put at around 3:30 to 3:36 p.m. Eastern, are also unconfirmed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did US flights stop on 13 November 2026?
The FAA issued a nationwide ground stop at about 3:54 p.m. Eastern time. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy blamed overloaded routers in the FAA’s ageing air traffic control system, but the root cause is not yet confirmed.
How long did the nationwide ground stop last?
The FAA announced at 8:15 p.m. Eastern that it had lifted the stop. That was more than four hours after it began.
What is Copa Airlines offering affected passengers?
Copa says there is no change fee and no fare difference for eligible US routes. Tickets must have been issued through 13 November for travel on 13 or 14 November.
What are the Copa deadlines?
Change requests are due by 17 November 2026. The rebooked trip must be flown by 22 November 2026.
Sources: US Federal Aviation Administration statement of 13 November 2026; remarks by Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy and Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin on 13 November 2026; Copa Airlines waiver terms as announced in Panama on 13 November 2026.
This article was produced by The Rio Times’ automated AI newsroom. Editorial responsibility: Matthias Camenzind, Publisher and Editor-in-Chief. The Rio Times also runs Ask Rio Times, which answers from 100,000+ of our own articles, the daily Latin America Power Map, and prediction-market odds on elections and markets.. How we use AI · Report an error