Blogroll

Update: The ground stop has been lifted, and domestic flights resumed late Friday.

For only the third time in U.S. history, flights across the United States have been ordered to stay on the ground. And as travelers found themselves stranded at airports, sitting in airport bars, and wondering when they might finally take off, the internet did what it does best and started posting.

On Friday, Nov. 13, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued a nationwide ground stop for departing flights following widespread air traffic control communications problems. The agency cited extraordinary circumstances and safety concerns, ordering aircraft to remain on the ground until further notice. Flights already in the air were permitted to land, while inbound international flights were being handled on a case-by-case basis.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

The scale of the disruption is difficult to overstate. The last time the FAA issued a nationwide ground stop was in January 2023, when a computer system failure temporarily halted departing flights. Before that, it happened in the aftermath of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.

SEE ALSO: FAA ground stop updates: What we know so far

It's the kind of historical comparison that can make an already unsettling situation feel even more alarming, particularly when thousands of travelers are left waiting for answers. The FAA's original communication was also extremely vague, citing only "extraordinary circumstances" and "reasons of safety."

And on social media, people had plenty of questions.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed. This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed. This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed. This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

For travelers caught in the middle of the disruption, the news wasn't just another breaking headline. It meant unexpected delays, uncertain departure times, and an increasingly familiar feeling of being at the mercy of systems entirely outside their control.

Some turned to social media to document the experience in real time, sharing updates from airport terminals.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed. This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed. Facebook users reported a rush to the airport bars. Credit: Facebook

Others were struck by the sheer rarity of the moment. A nationwide ground stop is not an everyday occurrence, and the fact that the previous two were associated with 9/11 and a major FAA systems failure only added to the unease.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed. This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

Of course, this being the internet, it didn't take long for people to find humor in the situation, either. Even an unprecedented disruption to air travel isn't immune to a few jokes, particularly when it happens on Friday the 13th following a major Microsoft outage.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed. This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed. This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed. This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

And then, there's this response from Stephen King:

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

But beyond the immediate frustration and online commentary, the ground stop raises more serious questions about the aging technology underpinning America's aviation system. The FAA has been working to modernize its air traffic control infrastructure, and Friday's communications problems offer another reminder of how much depends on systems most travelers rarely think about until something goes wrong.

The ground stop also comes at a particularly interesting moment for the FAA. Just days earlier, the agency announced that it was expanding its new AI-supported air traffic management system, known as SMART, to all 22 regional air traffic control centers nationwide. Shortly before that, the FAA announced it will finally phase out floppy disks by 2028.

The $875 million system is designed to analyze everything from weather patterns and flight routes to traffic congestion and controller staffing, helping aviation officials anticipate disruptions before they happen. According to the FAA, the technology is intended to reduce delays and make air travel more efficient, though human specialists remain responsible for reviewing its recommendations.

The timing has attracted attention online, particularly as questions swirl around what caused Friday's communications problems.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

For now, travelers are left refreshing their flight statuses, waiting for updates, and sharing their experiences online. And while the jokes might offer a momentary distraction, there's nothing particularly funny about realizing just how quickly an entire country's air travel system can grind to a halt.

This is a developing story.

TL;DR: Watch Japan vs. Brazil in an International Friendly for free on GE TV. Access this free livestream from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

There are some really interesting fixtures taking place this weekend. The Nations League has more significance than a regular International Friendly, but Japan vs. Brazil is arguably the most exciting fixture on the schedule. This contest takes place at the Singapore National Stadium, with plenty of elite talent on display.

If you're interested in watching Japan vs. Brazil in an International Friendly from anywhere in the world, we've got all the information you need.

When is Japan vs. Brazil?

Japan vs. Brazil in an International Friendly kicks off at 5:15 a.m. ET on Nov. 14. This fixture takes place at the Singapore National Stadium.

How to watch Japan vs. Brazil for free

Japan vs. Brazil in an International Friendly is available to live stream for free on GE TV.

GE TV is geo-restricted to Brazil, but anyone can secure access with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in Brazil, meaning you can live stream Japan vs. Brazil for free from anywhere in the world.

Live stream Japan vs. Brazil for free by following these simple steps:

1. Sign up for a streaming-friendly VPN (we recommend ExpressVPN)

2. Download the app to your device of choice

3. Open up the app and connect to a server in Brazil

4. Visit GE TV

5. Watch Japan vs. Brazil for free from anywhere in the world

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Month Plan) $12.99 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Get Deal

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but they do tend to offer generous money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can watch Japan vs. Brazil without committing your cash. This is obviously not a long-term strategy, but it gives you enough time to stream this fixture before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for GE TV?

ExpressVPN is the best choice for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport on GE TV, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries, including Brazil

• Easy-to-use app available on all major devices, including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure

• Fast connection speeds free from throttling

• Up to 10 simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A two-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $68.40 and includes an extra four months for free — 81% off for a limited time. This plan includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and usually offers a generous 30-day money-back guarantee. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.99.

Live stream Japan vs. Brazil for free from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

Looking for spoiler-free NYT Connections hints or just wondering why Connections is trending today? We've got what you need to understand the clues for today's puzzle without spoiling any of the answers.

Of course, Mashable has also provided daily hints and answers for Connections, Wordle, and Strands for years, so we can help you if that's also what you need.

While we are focused more on meanings than hints in this story, sometimes learning that many of the words have completely unrelated meanings is a clue in and of itself. Connections frequently includes clues that involve words within words and other visual clues.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for November 14, 2026 Campus meaning

A collection of buildings.

Center meaning

A building or facility dedicated to a specific service.

Complex meaning

Composed of multiple parts.

Facility meaning

A place or building for a specific purpose.

Advanced meaning

Greatly improved or updated.

Foremost meaning

First in importance, rank or position.

Modern meaning

New and fresh.

Progressive meaning

Developing or happening gradually.

Chess meaning

A classic two-player strategy board game.

Go meaning

To advance.

Othello meaning

A two-player strategy board game.

Want more tech and digital culture news delivered to your inbox daily or sent straight to your device? Sign up for Mashable's Top Stories newsletter or get Mashable push alerts today.

Stratego meaning

A two-player war board game.

Battle meaning

A fight.

Marriage meaning

A legalized union.

Mottle meaning

A colored spot.

Trib meaning

A small river or stream.

Have you learned the meanings and still want the things? Check out the hints and answers for today's NYT Connections puzzle.

Are you also playing NYT Strands? Get all the Strands hints you need for today's puzzle.

Meet The Mashable 101: Our list of the content creators shaping the internet today

If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to yesterday's Connections.

The NYT Connections puzzle today is not too difficult if you're a new parent.

Connections is the one of the most popular New York Times word games that's captured the public's attention. The game is all about finding the "common threads between words." And just like Wordle, Connections resets after midnight and each new set of words gets trickier and trickier—so we've served up some hints and tips to get you over the hurdle.

If you just want to be told today's puzzle, you can jump to the end of this article for today's Connections solution. But if you'd rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable What is Connections?

The NYT's latest daily word game has become a social media hit. The Times credits associate puzzle editor Wyna Liu with helping to create the new word game and bringing it to the publications' Games section. Connections can be played on both web browsers and mobile devices and require players to group four words that share something in common.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

Each puzzle features 16 words and each grouping of words is split into four categories. These sets could comprise of anything from book titles, software, country names, etc. Even though multiple words will seem like they fit together, there's only one correct answer.

If a player gets all four words in a set correct, those words are removed from the board. Guess wrong and it counts as a mistake—players get up to four mistakes until the game ends.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

Players can also rearrange and shuffle the board to make spotting connections easier. Additionally, each group is color-coded with yellow being the easiest, followed by green, blue, and purple. Like Wordle, you can share the results with your friends on social media.

SEE ALSO: NYT Pips hints, answers for November 14, 2026 Here's a hint for today's Connections categories

Want a hint about the categories without being told the categories? Then give these a try:

• Yellow: New and improved

• Green: Setting

• Blue: Let's play

• Purple: Little ones

Want more tech and digital culture news delivered to your inbox daily or sent straight to your device? Sign up for Mashable's Top Stories newsletter or get Mashable push alerts today.

Here are today's Connections categories

Need a little extra help? Today's connections fall into the following categories:

• Yellow: Cutting-edge

• Green: Locations for an institution

• Blue: Strategy board games

• Purple: Baby gear with first letter changed

Ready for the answers? This is your last chance to turn back and solve today's puzzle before we reveal the solutions.

Drumroll, please!

The solution to today's Connections #1252 is...

What is the answer to Connections today

• Cutting-edge: ADVANCED, FOREMOST, MODERN, PROGRESSIVE

• Locations for an institution: CAMPUS, CENTER, COMPLEX, FACILITY

• Strategy board games: CHESS, GO, OTHELLO, STRATEGO

• Baby gear with first letter changed: BATTLE, MARRIAGE, MOTTLE, TRIB

Looking for Wordle today? Here's the answer to today's Wordle.

Are you also playing NYT Strands? Get all the Strands hints you need for today's puzzle.

Meet The Mashable 101: Our list of the content creators shaping the internet today

If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to yesterday's Connections.

Today's NYT Strands hints will be easy if you're a parent.

Strands, the New York Times' elevated word-search game, requires the player to perform a twist on the classic word search. Words can be made from linked letters — up, down, left, right, or diagonal, but words can also change direction, resulting in quirky shapes and patterns. Every single letter in the grid will be part of an answer. There's always a theme linking every solution, along with the "spangram," a special, word or phrase that sums up that day's theme, and spans the entire grid horizontally or vertically.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable

By providing an opaque hint and not providing the word list, Strands creates a brain-teasing game that takes a little longer to play than its other games, like Wordle and Connections.

If you're feeling stuck or just don't have 10 or more minutes to figure out today's puzzle, we've got all the NYT Strands hints for today's puzzle you need to progress at your preferred pace.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for November 14, 2026 NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: Preschool fun

The words are related to games.

Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explained

These words involve a kid's game.

NYT Strands spangram hint: Is it vertical or horizontal?

Today's NYT Strands spangram is horizontal.

Want more tech and digital culture news delivered to your inbox daily or sent straight to your device? Sign up for Mashable's Top Stories newsletter or get Mashable push alerts today.

NYT Strands spangram answer today

Today's spangram is Follow the Leader.

NYT Strands word list for November 14

• Tiptoe

• Spin

• Gallop

• Follow the Leader

• March

• Skip

• Walk

• Jump

Meet The Mashable 101: Our list of the content creators shaping the internet today

Looking for other daily online games? Mashable's Games page has more hints, and if you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now!

Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to yesterday's Strands.

Today's Wordle answer should be easy to solve if you're not the friendliest.

If you just want to be told today's word, you can jump to the bottom of this article for today's Wordle solution revealed. But if you'd rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for November 14, 2026 Where did Wordle come from?

Originally created by engineer Josh Wardle as a gift for his partner, Wordle rapidly spread to become an international phenomenon, with thousands of people around the globe playing every day. Alternate Wordle versions created by fans also sprang up, including battle royale Squabble, music identification game Heardle, and variations like Dordle and Quordle that make you guess multiple words at once. 

Wordle eventually became so popular that it was purchased by the New York Times, and TikTok creators even livestream themselves playing.

Are you also playing NYT Connections? See hints and answers for today's Connections.

What's the best Wordle starting word?

The best Wordle starting word is the one that speaks to you. But if you prefer to be strategic in your approach, we have a few ideas to help you pick a word that might help you find the solution faster. One tip is to select a word that includes at least two different vowels, plus some common consonants like S, T, R, or N.

What happened to the Wordle archive?

The entire archive of past Wordle puzzles was originally available for anyone to enjoy whenever they felt like it, but it was later taken down, with the website's creator stating it was done at the request of the New York Times. However, the New York Times then rolled out its own Wordle Archive, available only to NYT Games subscribers.

Is Wordle getting harder?

It might feel like Wordle is getting harder, but it actually isn't any more difficult than when it first began. You can turn on Wordle's Hard Mode if you're after more of a challenge, though.

Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:

Rude.

Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?

No letters appear twice.

Want more tech and digital culture news delivered to your inbox daily or sent straight to your device? Sign up for Mashable's Top Stories newsletter or get Mashable push alerts today.

Today's Wordle is a 5-letter word that starts with...

Today's Wordle starts with the letter R.

The Wordle answer today is...

Get your last guesses in now, because it's your final chance to solve today's Wordle before we reveal the solution.

Drumroll please!

The solution to today's Wordle is...

RANDY

Don't feel down if you didn't manage to guess it this time. There will be a new Wordle for you to stretch your brain with tomorrow, and we'll be back again to guide you with more helpful hints.

Are you also playing NYT Strands? See hints and answers for today's Strands.

Reporting by Chance Townsend, Caitlin Welsh, Sam Haysom, Amanda Yeo, Shannon Connellan, Cecily Mauran, Mike Pearl, and Adam Rosenberg contributed to this article.

Meet The Mashable 101: Our list of the content creators shaping the internet today

If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to yesterday's Wordle.

Update: The ground stop has been lifted, and domestic flights resumed late Friday.

For the second time since 9/11, all air travel in the United States has been temporarily halted.

The Federal Aviation Administration issued a rare nationwide ground stop on Friday afternoon, leaving countless travelers stranded at airports across the U.S. Officials, including Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy, attributed the stoppage to a communications issue whose cause is unknown at the time of publication.

SEE ALSO: Is the ground stop related to the FAA's new air traffic AI?

Of course, the question on many people's minds right now is: When will the ground stop be lifted? Unfortunately, we do not know the answer to that right now. CNN reported that Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin said the government has "not discussed any timeframe."

“It’s going to take some time,” Mullin said, per CNN. “And so this isn’t going to just be resolved and turned around within the hour.”

That means this could very well last through Friday evening, at least. For reference, the last nationwide ground stop in 2023 lasted about 90 minutes, but Mullin's rhetoric seemed to suggest this one could take longer to resolve.

Want more tech and digital culture news delivered to your inbox daily or sent straight to your device? Sign up for Mashable's Top Stories newsletter or get Mashable push alerts today.

Update 8:49 p.m. Nov. 13: According to reports, airline sources say the ground stop has been lifted.

On Friday afternoon, the FAA grounded all planes nationwide, an extraordinary step that brought air travel to a grinding halt. The aviation administration said it halted travel "due to extraordinary circumstances and for reasons of safety."

U.S. Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy also confirmed the flight stoppage on X.

"The [FAA] issued a nationwide ground stop for all U.S. airports following a communication issue impacting all Air Route Traffic Control Centers. FAA technicians are investigating the issue. We will provide immediate updates as we have them."

The FAA rarely halts traffic coast to coast, leaving many travelers with questions about their flight status and the cause of the grounding. Here's what we know so far.

SEE ALSO: FAA nationwide ground stop: Why it happened, according to Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin Why did the FAA ground all flights on Friday, Nov. 13?

The FAA's original explanation was that the ground stoppage was necessary "due to extraordinary circumstances and for reasons of safety." That was a vague and somewhat anxiety-inducing communication, as many Americans associate nationwide ground stoppages with the tragedy of Sept. 11, when flights were also stopped in dramatic fashion.

However, the FAA soon clarified in a statement that the order was issued due to a telecommunications issue.

"There has been a temporary telecommunications outage — out of an abundance of caution, all flights have been halted. Every flight has been accounted for and international flights will be handled on a case by case basis."

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

However, CNN reported this extraordinary quote, citing an unnamed airline source: "Ten minutes ago, they were on a crisis call and there was still no clear answer as to a cause." More recently, CNN reported that the FAA told airlines that the problem originated with "network routers."

In a White House press briefing late Friday evening, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy and Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin explained the ground stop was the result of outdated air traffic control systems. Duffy said the analogue systems were "overloaded" by a patchwork of newly-installed modern technology, which caused inconsistencies in radar and communications. The FAA ordered the ground stop out of an "abundance of caution," officials explained.

How many flights have been impacted so far?

According to the Misery Map, a visualization of cancellations and delays produced by the flight-tracking service FlightAware, there have been 2,406 delays and 763 cancellations so far today. At the same time yesterday, FlightAware recorded 410 delays and six cancellations.

Because of the chaotic nature of a sudden ground stoppage, many travelers may be stuck sitting in planes on the tarmac. One Mashable reporter is currently in exactly that situation.

SEE ALSO: The FAA nationwide ground stop sparks travel panic and viral memes Airports are warning travelers to check flight status before coming to the airport

In the hours after the FAA grounded all domestic flights, major airports are warning travelers to check their flight status before heading to the airport. The X account of New York City's John F. Kennedy Airport wrote, "Travelers should confirm their flight status with their airline before heading to the airport." Dulles International Airport in Washington, DC issued the following advisory to travelers: "Prior to coming to the airport, check with your airline regarding the status of your flight."

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed. This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed. When was the last nationwide ground stoppage?

The FAA has only grounded all planes nationwide on two prior occasions. It happened for the first time on 9/11, and then again on Jan. 11, 2023. In the latter incident, flights were grounded for just 90 minutes due to issues with the Notice to Air Missions (NOTAM) system. In 2024, the infamous CrowdStrike IT outage led major airlines to issue a global stoppage.

Is the FAA nationwide ground stoppage the result of a cyberattack?

As with yesterday's global Microsoft outage, online commentators quickly speculated that a cyberattack may have been the cause of the ground stoppage, but there is currently no reason to believe that is the case. The FAA has clearly stated that it's the result of "a temporary telecommunications outage." Mullin reiterated in the Friday briefing that there were "no indications" of foreign interference as of now.

The FAA's IT infrastructure is notoriously out of date. Just last week, Mashable reported on the administration's plans to finally phase out floppy disks — two years from now.

Why did the nationwide ground stop occur?

CBS News reported that multiple sources told them "[a]n update to the private communications network that connects America's air traffic control system caused the system to reboot, leading to a crash and a communications outage." A Florida-based company, L3Harris, operates that system, according to CBS News.

"This is not another 9/11"

Speaking at a news conference, Department of Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin said, "This is not another 9/11," according to KOMO News.

"There is no fear to the public. I want to make sure we say this again — there is no reason for the public to be afraid or scared for your loved ones," the secretary stated.

The FAA recently implemented a new AI system

In recent days, the FAA announced it was expanding the use of an AI tool to help air traffic controllers manage traffic, according to Ars Technica. However, there is no evidence that the current stoppage and the AI rollout are related. That hasn't stopped frustrated travelers from speculating on a connection, however.

On Friday evening, the company behind the new AI tool stated that there was absolutely no connection between the ground stoppage and its work.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed. SEE ALSO: Is the ground stop related to the FAA's new air traffic AI? When will the FAA nationwide ground stoppage end?

Unfortunately, it's impossible to answer that question. As we already noted, the last nationwide ground stoppage in 2023 lasted approximately 90 minutes, according to the FAA's communications at the time.

If CNN's source who claimed the FAA currently has no idea what caused the problem is correct, it could drag on much longer than travelers would like.

We should also note that it's currently Friday the 13th.

This is a developing story...

Want more science and tech news delivered straight to your inbox? Sign up for Mashable's Light Speed newsletter or get Mashable push alerts today.

UPDATE: Nov. 13, 2026, 6:59 p.m. EST This story has been updated with additional information.

UPDATE: Nov. 13, 2026, 6:11 p.m. PST This story has been updated with additional information on the cause of the ground stop.

Trump administration officials and Air Traffic Control (ATC) insiders are shedding light on Friday's nationwide ground stop, which resulted in massive delays for thousands of flights and nearly all domestic travelers.

Several sources told CBS News Friday evening that the ground stop was caused by a communication system reboot. According to multiple insiders with knowledge of the incident, an update to a private communications network used by air traffic controllers forced the system to reboot and impede communications at the nation's 22 regional air traffic control centers, CBS News reported.

Hours later, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy and Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin said the outage was caused by an outdated air traffic control system coming up against the processing power of newly implemented modern technology.

"Our routers got overloaded by the data," said Duffy. The secretary said the overloaded routers, which he described as "'80s copper lines", caused instability in communications at Terminal Radar Approach Control (TRACON) and Air Route Traffic Control Centers (ARTCCs). Out of an "abundance of caution," the FAA issued the ground stop.

Duffy asserted that only older lines were affected, not newly installed ATC tech. Duffy then called on Congress to provide $50 billion in emergency funding to overhaul the system completely.

The ground stop has now been lifted.

SEE ALSO: FAA ground stop: When will it end? Not as soon as you'd like.

As recently as 6 p.m. ET, insiders reported the FAA was still investigating the circumstances behind the communication blackout.

Following confirmation of a telecommunications outage, social media users theorized the blackout may have been a consequence of the FAA's new AI-powered air traffic control system, known as Strategic Management of Airspace, Routes and Trajectories, or SMART. Others suggested the recent Microsoft outage could have been a factor.

When asked if AI played a role in the ground stop, Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin told the press that officials couldn't "rule anything out." In comments to the press later that evening, Mullin once again affirmed officials haven't found any indication of a cybersecurity attack but couldn't rule out interference entirely. "There’s nothing completely certain right now. It does not appear that way," Mullin said. "The public was never at danger. There was never any lives at risk. There were no flights at risk."

Air Space Intelligence (ASI), the company behind SMART, denied speculation that the new AI tool was involved in the ground stop. Microsoft also issued a statement, writing: "We have no indication that the FAA’s nationwide ground stop is related to any Microsoft services."

The FAA has undertaken an administration-wide modernization project, including phasing out the use of floppy disks for storing weather conditions, airport status updates, equipment issues, and other critical information.

UPDATE: Nov. 13, 2026, 5:47 p.m. This story was updated with new information from the Department of Transportation and Department of Homeland Security.

A bigger drive is one of the easiest ways to stop juggling which games and projects stay installed on your PC. The WD_BLACK SN850P 2TB Internal SSD is 50% off in a doorbuster deal at Best Buy, and it can give you the extra storage you need (whether on PS5 or PC) with a heatsink to spare.

Wine 11.22 is now available, updating the popular compatibility layer that lets you use Windows apps and games on Linux, macOS, and other Unix-like operating systems. The update adds AVX support to ARM64 Linux systems, making it easier to use Windows applications on Linux. AVX is a series of processing instructions that some apps need to function properly; Wine 11.22 adds support for AVX instructions when running x86 applications on ARM64 systems, removing a compatibility obstacle for software that needs those instructions.

A tethered power tool gets in the way when you're trimming a 3D print or reaching into a tight PC case. A cordless rotary tool fixes that and lets you work wherever the light is best, instead of hunting for an outlet near the bench. The Fanttik F2 PRO Cordless Rotary Tool Kit is a small, beginner-friendly kit that will solve your problem, and right now it's available on Amazon for just $60, 33% off the $90 full price.

Google may have introduced more friction to the process of loading apps from places other than the Google Play Store, but with enough determination you can still install pretty much any app you want.

Update: The ground stop has been lifted, and domestic flights resumed late Friday.

For only the third time in U.S. history, the Federal Aviation Administration(FAA) has issued a nationwide ground stop of all flights.

U.S. Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy confirmed the ground stop at 4:16 p.m. ET. More than 2,000 flights have already been affected and flights into the U.S. have also been halted.

SEE ALSO: Flight status tracker: How to check online after FAA grounds all flights

Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin told the press that today's national stoppage was caused by a "telecommunications outage," not a national security threat.

Is the ground stop connected to AI?

One day prior, ArsTechnica reported on the FAA's recent roll out of its new $875 million AI tool, the Strategic Management of Airspace, Routes and Trajectories (SMART) system. SMART is a cloud-based platform system designed to help air traffic controllers evaluate and manage national airspace, the FAA explained in a system fact sheet.

"Using AI, SMART analyzes airline schedules, weather, airport capacity, airspace conditions, and operational constraints to predict traffic flows and identify potential conflicts before they occur," the administration wrote.

Users online pointed out the coincidental timing almost immediately. Air Space Intelligence (ASI), the American aerospace and defense company behind SMART, denied on social media any connection to the ground stop.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed. This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed. This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

At this time, officials have not confirmed any connection between the deployment of the FAA's SMART tool and the ground stop. SMART has been active in Washington, DC airspace since at least Sept. 21, ArsTechnica reported, and the FAA announced a rollout to 22 centers across the country on Nov. 10. According to the administration, SMART had successfully helped reroute 180 flights.

When asked about the possibility that SMART could have impacted the nation's air traffic control systems, Mullin said, "You can't rule out anything at this point. We are going through that process and we're going to find out what happened. When we do, we'll take the appropriate actions to make sure it doesn't happen again."

ASI posted a statement to X refuting claims its system resulted in the FAA stoppage. "The current ground stop is not based on or a result of the SMART system, any product of ASI or our integration with FAA and ATC," the company wrote.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

UPDATE: Nov. 13, 2026, 3:41 p.m. This story was updated with a quote from Air Space Intelligence (ASI).

Coffee has a way of going cold faster than you'd think, and reheating it is a chore. The Ember Mug 3 keeps your drink at the temperature you choose, and it's 33% off at Amazon right now as a limited-time early Black Friday deal.

The Raspberry Pi just got a massive price hike. You'll now have to spend around $500 to get a full Pi 5 16GB setup, which is just crazy to me. I really don't think the Pi 5 is worth it at that price, as you can do almost everything that a Pi can do with a mini PC (outside of GPIO pins).

It's been a great time for Netflix documentaries in November. So far this month, Netflix has released Taken: Natalee Holloway, a true crime series about a missing person's case, and Avedon, an informative movie about a legendary photographer. And if those don't pique your interest, here are three more documentaries to consider.

AMD's AM4 platform is now a decade old, but it remains a popular choice among budget PC builders. New AM4 CPUs are still readily available, and since AM5 motherboards and DDR5 memory have now become prohibitively expensive, sticking with the older platform is now the only way to build a PC on a budget.

The Linux 7.5 source tree will introduce a new tool called hwpoison-panic that deliberately induces certain memory issues in your computer to cause a crash. Developers can use the tool to test the Linux kernel and ensure it crashes when expected

Update: The ground stop has been lifted, and domestic flights resumed late Friday.

In an extraordinarily rare move, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced that all flights in the U.S. are grounded on Friday afternoon.

The FAA said this nationwide ground stop was "due to extraordinary circumstances and for reasons of safety."

U.S. Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy posted a confirmation of the outage on his X account, attributing the ground stop order to "a communication issue impacting all Air Route Traffic Control Centers.” Duffy added, “FAA technicians are investigating the issue."

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

The FAA has only ordered the grounding of all flights nationwide on two prior occasions. The first was on 9/11, and the second was on Jan. 11, 2023, when all flights were grounded for 90 minutes due to problems with the Notice to Air Missions (NOTAM) system. In 2024, the CrowdStrike IT outage led some major airlines to issue a global stoppage.

"The FAA issued a nationwide ground stop for all U.S. airports following communication issues impacting multiple Air Route Traffic Control Centers," the FAA said in a statement. "All departing traffic should remain ground stopped until further notice," read an air traffic control advisory reported by Axios.

How to check the status of your flight

For those preparing to board a flight, this will obviously cause delays. 

Travelers who need to monitor the status of their air travel should make sure to turn on notifications with their airline in order to receive up-to-the-minute updates regarding their specific flights.

To check the status of flights online, you can use the following resources:

• Flighty: An iOS app that uses FAA air traffic control data to track flights

• FlightAware: A website and app (Android and iOS) that provides live tracking for flights

• Misery Map: A FlightAware map showing cancellations and delays around the country

• Flightradar24: Another live radar map available through a website and app (Android and iOS)

As of this writing, the Misery Map shows 2,438 delays and counting.

The FAA also provides broad status updates regarding active airport events on its National Airspace System Status website located at https://nasstatus.faa.gov/.

Flyers can also check the social media profiles and websites of specific airports for local updates.

This is a developing story...