U.S. Grounds All Flights Nationwide

The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) ordered a halt to all departures due to an emergency and safety concerns.

Planes must remain on the ground until further notice. Arriving international flights are being assessed on a case-by-case basis.

The official reason for the emergency measures has not been disclosed, but reports indicate radio communication failures between air traffic controllers and pilots.

The restrictions came into effect at 15:53 ET (23:53 MSK).

The measures are expected to last until 23:00–23:30 (07:00–07:30 MSK Saturday).