Nationwide ground stop: How new DOT rule could affect compensation for flight delays

A new Department of Transportation (DOT) rule, which went into effect last month, could make it harder for some travelers to receive compensation for certain flight disruptions. 

The rule has received renewed attention following a nationwide Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) ground stop on Friday, which has left travelers waiting aboard planes, unsure how long they will be stuck before taking off or returning to the gate.

DOT rule leaves stuck travelers with fewer compensation options

What we know:

Effective Oct. 19, the DOT removed ten events which cause flight disruptions from being considered "within an airline's control," removing the ability for flyers to get compensated. 

The ten specific events excluded from airline-controllable data and placed into the Section 511(b) category are:

• Passenger death: Aircraft cleaning necessitated by the death of a passenger.
• External aircraft damage: Damage caused by extreme weather, foreign object debris (FOD), or sabotage.
• Third-party baggage outages: Baggage or cargo loading delays caused by an outage of a bag system not controlled by the carrier or its contractor.
• Compliant cyberattacks: Cybersecurity attacks, provided the airline was fully compliant with applicable federal cybersecurity regulations.
• Government system failures: Unexpected shutdowns or technical failures of government systems that directly impact safe flight operations.
• Emergency safety restrictions: Overheated brakes resulting from mandatory emergency safety procedures.
• Unscheduled maintenance: Non-deferrable, unscheduled maintenance issues (such as responding to urgent airworthiness directives) that manifest outside a scheduled program.
• Medical emergencies: Passenger or crew medical emergencies not caused by the airline.
• Unruly passengers: Delays resulting from the removal of an unruly passenger.
• Severe localized weather closures: Airport closures caused specifically by volcanic ash, wind, or wind shear.

The backstory:

The changes come in the wake of the FAA Reauthorization act of 2024.  The sweeping, bipartisan legislation targets infrastructure modernization, air traffic control staffing shortages, advanced technology integration, and upgraded passenger consumer rights.

Airlines issue flexible travel waivers to passengers affected 

Dig deeper:

Despite the new rules, Delta Air Lines issued a flexible travel waiver for passengers Friday afternoon as the nationwide FAA ground stop disrupted air travel across the country.

Delta put the travel waiver in place allowing customers with flexible travel plans to change their flights at no extra cost.

"Our goal is to safely resume departures when possible. We thank our customers for their understanding and our people for managing through the issue," the airline added.

RELATED: FAA ground stop: What are your rights if you’re stuck on the tarmac?

Meanwhile, United Airlines also said it would waive change fees and fare differences for flights departing between November 12, 2026 and November 20, 2026. 

"Tickets must be in the same cabin and between the same cities as originally booked," United said. 

United also said passengers who cancel or don’t take their trip, will receive a full refund.

The Source: This article includes information from the Department of Transportation (DOT), the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), and the Federal Registry, and FOX News.  This story was reported from Orlando. Mark Richardson contributed.