If you’re flying between the United States and Costa Rica this afternoon or tonight, expect delays and possible cancellations. The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) stopped every departing flight across the United States on Friday, citing “extraordinary circumstances” and “reasons of safety.”
The order took effect shortly before 4 p.m. Eastern time, just before 3 p.m. in Costa Rica. It stays in place until further notice. Any flight scheduled to leave a U.S. airport for San José or Liberia is grounded for now. That includes flights from the Florida hubs that carry much of Costa Rica’s U.S. traffic, such as Miami, Fort Lauderdale and Orlando, as well as other major gateways.
Planes already in the air are being allowed to continue to their destinations. Flights from Costa Rica to the United States are less clear. The FAA said inbound international flights will be handled case by case. Even if your flight is cleared, it may still be late. Many U.S. airlines fly a plane into Costa Rica and send the same aircraft back, so a jet stuck on the ground in Miami or Houston means a late or canceled departure here.
The FAA hasn’t officially said what caused the stop. U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said a communications issue is affecting all of the country’s Air Route Traffic Control Centers, which handle planes flying between airports. Outages on radio frequencies used by controllers had been reported in parts of the country before the order was issued.
There’s no confirmed time for flights to restart. Some flight-tracking services listed 5 p.m. Eastern time, or 4 p.m. in Costa Rica, as the first point the order would be reviewed, but it could be extended. Delays will likely last well past the end of the stop, because planes and crews will be out of position. In January 2023, a nationwide ground stop of about 90 minutes, triggered by the failure of a computer system that sends safety notices to pilots, led to more than 11,000 delays and cancellations.
Nationwide ground stops are extremely rare. The January 2023 one was the most recent. Before that, the only other was ordered after the September 11, 2001, attacks. Check your flight with your airline before you head to the airport. Airline apps and text alerts usually update before airport departure boards do.
Look for a travel waiver on your airline’s website. During large disruptions, airlines often let you change your flight without a fee, which can be easier than waiting for a rebooking. If your flight is canceled and you decide not to travel, U.S. rules entitle you to a cash refund, even when the cause is out of the airline’s control. Airlines aren’t required to pay for hotels or meals when the disruption isn’t their fault, so keep your receipts if you have travel insurance that covers delays.
If you’re connecting through a U.S. hub, you may miss your connection even after flights restart. Rebook through the airline that issued your ticket rather than each carrier separately. Updates on local flights are posted on the official social media channels of Juan Santamaría International Airport and Guanacaste Airport.
This is a developing story and will be updated as the FAA and airlines release more information.
