A nationwide aviation shutdown across the United States brought air travel to an unprecedented standstill on Friday, November 13, after the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) ordered all departing flights at US airports to remain on the ground following a major communications failure affecting the country’s air traffic control network. The extraordinary decision disrupted thousands of flights, stranded passengers at airports across the country and created widespread uncertainty for airlines and travellers, with some of the busiest aviation hubs in the world affected.