Which US airports are hit by ground stops today? Full list as FAA equipment outage delays flights amid hacking warning

Several airports in the northeastern US faced ground stops and flight delays on Monday after an equipment failure disrupted communications at an FAA facility in Philadelphia.

Flights grounded at major US airports. (UnSplash)CauseThe FAA said the Philadelphia Terminal Radar Approach Control (TRACON) facility experienced problems with radio frequencies and communications.

According to officials, a primary communications circuit failed, while a backup fiber-optic cable also had a break. The outage affected the facility’s ability to manage air traffic in the region.

John F. Kennedy International (JFK) — Ground stop

Boston Logan International Airport (BOS) also experienced ground delays or stops at times, partly because diverted flights added to traffic.

The disruption came as the Government Accountability Office (GAO) released a report warning that some FAA systems used to guide aircraft could be vulnerable to spoofing, jamming and other attacks on radio communications.

The report said attackers could potentially send fake messages to aircraft, including false information about flight clearances. Such attacks could disrupt air traffic, cause delays and create safety risks.

The GAO also found that two systems used to send text messages to aircraft were developed before modern cybersecurity standards and lack protections such as encryption.

Sen. Ron Wyden, an Oregon Democrat who has raised concerns about cybersecurity and privacy, called the vulnerabilities a serious concern for national security, the economy and aviation safety.

“The FAA needs to issue new standards, as soon as possible, to protect the security of airline communications,” Wyden said.

However, there is no indication that Monday’s equipment outage was caused by a cyberattack. The FAA attributed the disruption to failures involving its communications infrastructure.

Vaishnavi Vaidyanathan leads the US Desk at Hindustan Times, where she writes, strategises coverage, and ensures quality across all beats. With eight years of experience covering US news for leading publications, she has reported extensively on politics, entertainment, and sports. Vaishnavi holds a graduate degree in English, Journalism, and Psychology, and completed her PG Diploma in Broadcast Journalism from the Manorama School of Communication, where she was awarded the prestigious Mammen Mappillai Award for Best Outgoing Student. She began her career at the International Business Times (US Edition), covering US breaking news, politics, and entertainment. She later joined Opoyi, reporting across all beats, including US sports and trending stories. Prior to Hindustan Times, she served as World Lead at Times Now News, covering comprehensive world news and events. Vaishnavi has expertise in politics, entertainment, and breaking news, and enjoys tackling stories across a wide range of topics. Beyond the newsroom, she is an avid traveller, a foodie who loves exploring new restaurants, and a pop culture enthusiast who enjoys watching latest shows and films. She also enjoys engaging in debates and discussions on Reddit.Read More