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Kentucky airports come to standstill as FAA grounds flights nationwide for 'extraordinary circumstances'

WEKU | By Jackie Starkey
Published November 13, 2026 at 4:45 PM EST
Blue Grass Airport's ongoing staffing shortage has resulted in some overnight shifts moving to daytime hours — and the possibility the tower will be empty some nights.
John McGary
/
WEKU
Blue Grass Airport's ongoing staffing shortage has resulted in some overnight shifts moving to daytime hours — and the possibility the tower will be empty some nights.

Airports in Lexington, Louisville and Cincinnati, have grounded departing flights as the FAA issues a stop order across the U.S.

Airports in Lexington, Louisville and Northern Kentucky confirmed late Friday afternoon they have grounded all departing flights.

The move follows a rare stop order from the Federal Aviation Administration, citing "extraordinary circumstances and for reasons of safety."

In a tweet, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy cited a communication issue affecting air traffic control.

Just after 4:30 p.m. Blue Grass Airport officials confirmed to WEKU they have grounded flights there, but said they did not have additional details.

In a statement, to WEKU Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport encouraged passengers to check their flight status.

“The Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport (SDF) is currently under the FAA-issued nationwide ground stop that was sent shortly before 4 p.m. ET due to a FAA communications issue. This means, at this time, no aircraft are permitted to depart SDF, and delays are expected for all flights whether scheduled to depart from or arrive to SDF."

Officials with Cincinnati Northern Kentucky International Airport also confirmed around 4:40 p.m. they had stopped departing flights.

This is a developing report.
The Commonwealth
Jackie Starkey
Jackie Starkey joined WEKU as News Director/Managing Editor in June 2026. She previously worked as editor for the Lexington Herald-Leader and three other McClatchy newspapers, and started her career as a political reporter and later managing editor in coastal North Carolina. She holds a bachelor's degree from the University of North Carolina Asheville.
See stories by Jackie Starkey
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