National Ground Stop

A National Ground Stop is a name coined during the terrorism attacks of September 11th, 2001. It means shutting down a country's airspace so that no more aircraft take off and that all aircraft already in the air land as soon as possible. [http://911exposed.org/FAA.htm]

September 11th, 2001

A National Ground Stop has only been issued once in the history of commercial aviation and this was during the terrorism attacks against the United States of America on September 11th, 2001.

The 9/11 commission made reference to this unprecedented order and commended the air traffic controllers who carried it out. [ [http://www.gpoaccess.gov/911/pdf/fullreport.pdf 9/11 Commission report] ]

Credit

Several people have been credited with issuing the order for a national ground stop. The 9/11 commission credits Ben Sliney with issuing the directive after he witnessed United Airlines Flight 175 plough into the south tower of the World Trade Center. [ [http://www.gpoaccess.gov/911/pdf/fullreport.pdf 9/11 Commission report] ]

References