FAA ground stop live updates: Hundreds of flights canceled, no indication of 'nefarious' act

A small number of flights are taking off over the ocean and in Alaska and Hawaii.

Alaska and Hawaiian Airlines said in a statement that flights within Hawaii and from the West Coast to Hawaii can continue. International flights from Hawaii are also cleared. 

Hawaii's Department of Transportation said that flights between Anchorage to Oakland and Hawaii can fly.

San Francisco International Airport said that Pacific-bound flights are cleared to depart from the airport, including to destinations in Alaska and Hawaii.

Ontario Airport in California said that flights heading west over the ocean are allowed to take off from the airport at this time. 

Boston Logan said in a post that the FAA is permitting some transatlantic flights to depart.

-ABC News' Bonnie McClean

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said in an X post Friday that the ground stop was "due a communication issue impacting all Air Route Traffic Control Centers."

Air Route Traffic Control Centers are responsible for communication for all flights above 18,000 feet. There are 22 of these towers located in some of the nation's major hubs including New York, Los Angeles and Atlanta.

In an update shortly after 6 p.m. ET, the FAA said that the ground stop remains in effect.

"As enroute facilities recover, flights will be allowed to depart through coordination with the air traffic control system command center."

-ABC News Ayesha Ali

Major airlines are offering travel advisories and waivers.

Delta has issued a waiver allowing passengers to change their flight at no extra cost for Friday and Saturday.

United has issued a travel alert, and told passengers, "You can reschedule your trip and we’ll waive change fees and fare differences."

"But, your new flight must be a United flight departing between November 12, 2026 and November 20, 2026. Tickets must be in the same cabin and between the same cities as originally booked," United added.

-ABC News Clara McMichael