FAA Ground Stop Grounds Minnesota Football Charter Flight
A nationwide telecommunications outage affecting air traffic control has halted flights, including the Golden Gophers' trip to Penn State.
Updated on Nov. 13, 2026 in Air Travel
The Federal Aviation Administration issued a nationwide ground stop just before 4 p.m. Friday, grounding Minnesota football's charter flight from Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport. The charter, scheduled to depart at 2:30 p.m. on a Sun Country Airlines flight, has not departed.
Why it matters
The ground stop stems from a widespread telecommunications outage affecting Air Route Traffic Control Centers, and it has also disrupted several other college football teams traveling for games. For travelers across the country, the episode shows how a single communications failure can halt air travel system-wide.
The FAA ground stop was issued at roughly 4 p.m. Friday, while Minnesota's charter had been scheduled to leave at 2:30 p.m. The team is due to play Penn State at 7 p.m. Saturday, and the drive from Minneapolis to State College would take about 15 hours.
The players
Federal Aviation Administration
The U.S. federal agency responsible for regulating and overseeing civil aviation, including the nation's air traffic control system.
Minnesota Golden Gophers
The football program of the University of Minnesota, a member of the Big Ten Conference, whose charter flight was grounded.
Penn State Nittany Lions
The football program of Pennsylvania State University, which hosts Minnesota at Beaver Stadium in Happy Valley.
The details
The ground stop was attributed to a telecommunications outage affecting Air Route Traffic Control Centers across the United States. Ole Miss, Tennessee, Texas, Purdue, Washington, Oregon State, Wyoming, North Texas and all ACC visiting teams are also affected.
Timeline
Friday, before 4 p.m.: FAA issues nationwide ground stop.
Friday, 2:30 p.m.: Minnesota charter flight scheduled to depart.
Saturday, 7 p.m.: Minnesota plays Penn State in Happy Valley.
Travel Outlook
Nationwide ground stops like this one follow the pattern set by the 2023 FAA NOTAM system outage that grounded flights across the country. Such episodes show how concentrated dependence on a few air traffic control communication networks can ripple through the schedules of airlines, travelers, and sports teams alike.
Travelers with connecting flights or charter schedules should check with their airline for updates before heading to the airport. Ground stops can leave passengers waiting for hours, so keeping flexible plans and monitoring airline alerts is practical.
The takeaway
Nationwide aviation disruptions can strike without warning, so building buffer time into travel plans helps. Checking airline status pages before departure can save hours of uncertainty.
Further reading
For more on how federal rules shape flight disruptions, browse our Air Travel coverage.
