Trump Comments on Widespread Disruption to Air Travel Across the United States
ARK News.. U.S. President Donald Trump said the widespread disruption to air travel across the United States, which led to flights being grounded following a suspension of takeoffs, did not appear to have been caused by a cyberattack or interference linked to artificial intelligence.
Speaking by phone with Fox News on Saturday, November 14, 2026, Trump said no party had claimed responsibility for the disruption, noting that claims of responsibility are common following major cyberattacks targeting critical infrastructure.
He added that the disruption appeared to have resulted from the age of some of the infrastructure used by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to keep aircraft in the air, with several components having malfunctioned.
Trump said some of the equipment was around 55 years old and required continuous operation and maintenance. He noted that the administration had discussed replacing it with Congress, but the replacement process had not yet been completed.
The remarks came after the administration ordered all aircraft to be temporarily grounded at U.S. airports, citing “extraordinary circumstances and safety-related reasons.” The order followed communications disruptions affecting 22 regional air traffic control centers responsible for managing aircraft movements between airports.
According to data from aviation analytics firm Cerium, at least 600 flights had been diverted, while around 11,000 flights carrying more than 1.5 million passengers were scheduled to depart later.
The disruption also affected international travel, with aviation authorities in several countries announcing the suspension of flights bound for the United States. U.S. authorities, meanwhile, handled some international flights on a case-by-case basis.
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