Mullin doesn't rule out cyber attack in unprecedented nationwide passenger plane grounding
Oriana Pawlyk reports for Politico that the FAA issued a nationwide ground stop of all U.S. airports on 13 November 2026, its second in recent years, citing communication issues at multiple Air Route Traffic Control Centers. Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin said there is no indication of a threat and no reason for public fear, but would not rule out a cyber attack or AI intrusion, and is looking at the new AI traffic tool SMART, whose developer denied on X that the ground stop stems from its system; Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said technicians are investigating and he plans to lobby Congress for $30 billion to upgrade air traffic control.
