Urgent warning issued to Aussie travellers to contact their airlines immediately after all flights at US airports were grounded due to 'extraordinary circumstances' - as holidaymakers vent their frustration while…

Detailed summary

On Friday local time, the US Federal Aviation Administration issued the order in an extraordinarily rare move.

By CAITLIN POWELL - NEWS REPORTER and CHRIS MELORE, US DEPUTY SCIENCE EDITOR and STACY LIBERATORE, US SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY EDITOR

Published: 00:44 GMT, 14 November 2026 | Updated: 03:42 GMT, 14 November 2026

Australians in the US are facing widespread travel chaos after a nationwide flight ground stop left thousands delayed, with some claiming they have been stranded.

On Friday local time, the US Federal Aviation Administration issued the order for departing flights in an extraordinarily rare move.

The government agency said the move was 'due to extraordinary circumstances and reasons for safety' and was understood to be linked to a communications issue affecting air route traffic control centres nationwide.

'It is a developing situation, and there will be knock-on impacts for travellers,' the Australian Travel Industry Association (ATIA) said on Saturday.

Flights due to depart for the US from Sydney’s Kingsford Smith Airport were grounded through the morning.

ATIA said travellers departing soon were the priority and urged anyone due to take off in the next 72 hours to contact their travel agent, airline or tour operator immediately if they had not received any information.

For those due to depart after 72 hours, ATIA suggested they wait while earlier passengers are dealt with first.

Opening of the article, excerpted from Daily Mail. To read the rest, open the article on the publisher's site.