Mullin says no evidence of attack behind nationwide FAA shutdown

WASHINGTON, D.C. — November 13, 2026 — U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin sought to reassure Americans Friday evening after the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) ordered a rare nationwide ground stop, disrupting thousands of flights across the country.

Speaking to reporters outside the White House, Mullin said federal authorities had found no indication that the widespread aviation communications failure was caused by a deliberate attack.

“There was no indication, as of yet, that this was a nefarious act against us,” Mullin said.

He described the incident as a telecommunications outage affecting the FAA, while emphasizing that investigators were still working to determine its cause.

Mullin: This Is Not Another September 11

Addressing concerns about aviation security, Mullin delivered a particularly strong message to the American public.

“This isn’t another 9/11. I cannot repeat that enough,” he told reporters.

The Homeland Security secretary said officials had no reason, based on the information available, to believe the disruption represented a threat to the United States.

However, he stressed that investigators were not ruling out potential causes before completing their examination.

All Aircraft Accounted For

Mullin also reassured families whose loved ones were traveling when the nationwide ground stop was issued.

According to the secretary, all aircraft had been accounted for, and officials were working to ensure planes already in the air could land safely.

The FAA ordered the ground stop as a precaution after a communications problem affected the country’s regional air traffic control centers.

The disruption prevented new departures while aviation authorities assessed the situation.

President Trump Briefed

Mullin confirmed that President Donald Trump had been briefed on the nationwide aviation disruption.

Federal agencies were coordinating their response as FAA technicians worked to identify the source of the telecommunications failure.

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy separately confirmed that the communications problem affected Air Route Traffic Control Centers across the United States.

Florida Airports Among Those Affected

The nationwide ground stop also disrupted flights serving Florida, including Jacksonville International Airport, Orlando International Airport, Miami International Airport and Tampa International Airport.

Travelers were advised to check directly with their airlines for the latest departure information and possible schedule changes.

The interruption has resulted in widespread delays and cancellations, with airlines warning that disruptions could continue even after normal operations begin to resume.

Investigation Continues

Although Mullin said there was no current indication of an attack, federal officials have not announced a definitive cause for the FAA communications failure.

Authorities are continuing their investigation, and the absence of evidence of malicious activity does not amount to a final technical conclusion.

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