The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has issued a nationwide ground stop order for the first time since the attacks on September 11, 2001.

Speaking with 6PR Weekends host Chrissy Morrissy, Nine’s US correspondent Reid Butler said the incident had left travellers unsettled.

Press PLAY to hear Reid Butler explain the communication breakdown grounding flights across the US

“You have this close to unprecedented situation happen post 9/11. Every plane at every airport across the US not allowed to take off,” he said.

“A kind of frightening situation playing out here in the US and a lot of people a little [check audio against ‘a light’] unsettled by this.”

In a statement to 6PR, a spokesperson for the FAA said the order was issued due to communication issues with air traffic control towers.

“The FAA issued a nationwide ground stop for all US airports following communication issues impacting multiple Air Route Traffic Control Centers. FAA technicians are investigating the issue,” the statement said.

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