(COLUMBIA, SC) Thousands of travelers were stranded on Nov. 13, 2026, when the Federal Aviation Administration grounded all domestic flights in the U.S. because of what they said were failures in decades-old air traffic communications systems. Crisis communications expert Shannon A. Bowen, a scholar at the University of South Carolina’s College of Information and Communications, spoke with The Conversation’s Politics and Legal Affairs Editor, Naomi Schalit, about how the Trump administration handled the first day of the crisis.
kAmkDEC@?8mxD E96C6 2 7:CDE AC:?4:A=6 :? 4C:D:D 4@>>F?:42E:@?Dnk^DEC@?8mk^Am
kAm%96 7:CDE AC:?4:A=6 H@F=5 36 E@ C624E BF:4<=J 2?5 C624E H:E9 244FC24J[ C624E H:E9 6G6CJE9:?8 J@F <?@H 2E E96 >@>6?E[ ECFE97F==J[ 3FE 2=H2JD C624E BF:4<=J] q642FD6 :7 J@F 56=2J F?E:= J@F 82E96C :?7@C>2E:@?[ 2 G24FF> H:== 6?DF6] x?7@C>2E:@? 7:==D E92E G24FF> E92E >2J ?@E 36 244FC2E6] p?5 D@ E92E’D E96 6?6>J @7 244FC2E6 4C:D:D 4@>>F?:42E:@?[ 3FE J@F H2?E E@ 2=H2JD DA62< BF:4<=J 2?5 36 E96 >@DE 2FE9@C:E2E:G6 2?5 567:?:E:G6 D@FC46[ 6G6? :7 G6CJ =:EE=6 :?7@C>2E:@? :D <?@H?]k^Am
kAmkDEC@?8m(92E 5:5 H6 D66 @? E96 52J @7 E96 8C@F?5 DE@Ank^DEC@?8mk^Am
kAmp 4C:D:D F?7@=565 2?5 E@ E96 25>:?:DEC2E:@?’D 4C65:E[ k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]J@FEF36]4@>^H2E49nGl*FHCCDg|q!4QmE96J 5:5 C624E G6CJ BF:4<=Jk^2m[ :? 2 H2J E92E @776C65 E96 :?7@C>2E:@? E92E H2D <?@H? 2E E96 E:>6[ 6G6? E9@F89 ?@E 2 =@E H2D <?@H? 23@FE H9J E96 8C@F?5 DE@A H2D :DDF65 F?E:= =2E6C]k^Am
kAmkDEC@?8m*@F’C6 DA62<:?8 23@FE E96 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]J@FEF36]4@>^H2E49nGl*FHCCDg|q!4QmD9@CE AC6DD 4@?76C6?46 E92E 27E6C?@@?k^2m H:E9 s6A2CE>6?E @7 w@>6=2?5 $64FC:EJ $64C6E2CJ |2C<H2J?6 |F==:?nk^DEC@?8mk^Am
kAmw6 5:5 <66A D2J:?8 E92E k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]J@FEF36]4@>^H2E49nGl*q{">a5s=e*Qm?@E9:?8 ?672C:@FD H2D 2E 92?5k^2m] p?5 7@C 2 4C:D:D 4@>>F?:42E:@? D49@=2C[ k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]C6D62C4982E6]?6E^AF3=:42E:@?^bhfcbac_h0!C:?4:A=6D0@70t7764E:G60rC:D:D0r@>>F?:42E:@?QmJ@F H@F=5 ?@E H2?E E@ :?EC@5F46 E96 :562k^2m E92E D@>6E9:?8 ?672C:@FD H2D 2E 92?5[ F?=6DD[ :?5665[ D@>6E9:?8 ?672C:@FD H2D 2E 92?5] $@ 3J E96 G6CJ 24E @7 :?EC@5F4:?8 E9:D 4@?46AE 2?5 E9:D :562[ x E9:?< E96 E2=<:?8 A@:?E[ “}@E9:?8 ?672C:@FD[” E96? H6?E 24C@DD >F=E:A=6 ?6EH@C<D[ 2?5 :E 3642>6 E96 46?E6C @7 2 4@?EC@G6CDJ C2E96C E92? BF6==:?8 2 4@?EC@G6CDJ]k^Am
kAmqJ D2J:?8 ?@E9:?8 ?672C:@FD :D 2E 92?5[ E92E :?5665 4@?7:C>65 D@>6E9:?8 ?672C:@FD H2D 2E 92?5[ 6G6? :7 E96 ?672C:@FD?6DD H2D @?=J E96 >:D>2?286>6?E @7 E96 2:C EC277:4 4@?EC@= DJDE6>D C@FE6CD E92E E96J 4=2:>65 42FD65 E96 AC@3=6>] qJ :?EC@5F4:?8 E9:D :562[ x 36=:6G6 :E 5:5 3C:?8 E@ >:?5 E92E E96C6 >2J 36 @E96C DE2E6 24E@CD 369:?5 H92E6G6C 92AA6?65[ E92E :E 4@F=5 36 2 4J36C 2EE24<] xE H@F=5 92G6 366? 36EE6C E@ D2J[ “(6 92G6 6G:56?46 E92E E9:D H2D ?@E 2 4J36C 2EE24< 3FE 2 92C5H2C6 72:=FC6]”k^Am
k7:8FC6mk:7C2>6 H:5E9lQcc_Q 96:89ElQae_Q DC4lQ9EEADi^^HHH]J@FEF36]4@>^6>365^ptG!_Hc!<hgnH>@56lEC2?DA2C6?EU2>AjDE2CEl_Q 7C2>63@C56ClQ_Q 2==@H7F==D4C66?lQQmk^:7C2>6mk7:842AE:@?msw$ $64C6E2CJ |2C<H2J?6 |F==:? E6==D C6A@CE6CD E92E E96C6 H2D ?@ :?5:42E:@? @7 ‘?672C:@FD’ 24E:G:EJ 42FD:?8 E96 ?2E:@?H:56 8C@F?5 DE@A @? }@G] `b[ a_ae]k^7:842AE:@?mk^7:8FC6m
kAmkDEC@?8mw@H 5:5 E96 =2E6C AC6DD 4@?76C6?46 H:E9 |F==:? 2?5 %C2?DA@CE2E:@? $64C6E2CJ $62? sF77J 8@ 7C@> J@FC A6CDA64E:G6 2D 2? 6IA6CE @? 4C:D:D 4@>>F?:42E:@?Dnk^DEC@?8mk^Am
kAm%96J 92?5=65 E96 BF6DE:@?D E92E E96J C646:G65 4@CC64E=J] %96J E@=5 FD 2D >F49 :?7@C>2E:@? 2D E96J <?6H]k^Am
kAmw@H6G6C[ E96J 5:5 D66> E@ 5@H?A=2J E96 6IE6?E @7 E9:D 4C:D:D[ 3642FD6 H6 92G6 E@ C6>6>36C E96 EC2G6=:?8 AF3=:4 :D ?@E ;FDE A6@A=6 ECJ:?8 E@ 86E E@ 3FD:?6DD >66E:?8D]k^Am
kAm(6 925 7@@E32== E62>D DEC2?565] }@H k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]<D?3=@42=c]4@>^a_ae^``^`b^DF556?\722\8C@F?5\DE@A\DEC2?5D\E62>D\E9C@HD\FA4@>:?8\DA@CED\H66<6?5\:?E@\492@D^Qm7@@E32== $2EFC52Jk^2m[ 2== @G6C E96 $tr[ 92D 366? 5:DCFAE65] p?5 E96C6’D AC@323=J 5:DCFAE:@? :? @E96C 2C62D @7 E96 4@F?ECJ[ 3FE E@ FD :? E96 $@FE9[ k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^E:>6]4@>^dbchdb_^A2F=\7:?632F>\7@@E32==^Qm$tr 7@@E32== :D 2=>@DE 2 C6=:8:@FD 6IA6C:6?46 @? $2EFC52Jk^2m] {F4<:=J[ k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]E96DE2E6]4@>^DA@CED^4@==686^F?:G6CD:EJ\@7\D@FE9\42C@=:?2^FD4\H@>6?D\32D<6E32==^2CE:4=6b`g_f``a`]9E>=QmE96 &?:G6CD:EJ @7 $@FE9 r2C@=:?2 7@@E32== E62> 925 2=C625J 7=@H? @FEk^2m] qFE @FC >2C49:?8 32?5 H2D DEF4< :? E9:D 4C:D:D[ 2?5 D@ H6 92G6 2 =@E @7 C:AA=6 67764ED 7C@> D@>6E9:?8 =:<6 E9:D 92AA6?:?8[ 2?5 :E 567:?:E6=J D2JD E@ >6 E92E E9:D H2D 2? 6>6C86?4J D:EF2E:@?] xE H2D?’E D:>A=J 2 4C:D:D[ :E H2D 2? 24EF2= 6>6C86?4J @7 :>A6?5:?8 5:D2DE6C\=6G6= D42=6]k^Am
kAmx7 :E H6C6 D:>A=J C@FE6CD 36:?8 @G6C=@2565[ 2D H6’G6 366? E@=5[ H9J H@F=5?’E E96J 2=C625J <?@H E9:D D:EF2E:@? 2?5 C6DE2CE E9@D6 C@FE6CD E96 ?:89E 367@C6 @C @G6C uC:52J ?:89E 27E6C >@DE @7 E96 EC2G6=:?8 AF3=:4 :D @FE @7 E96 2:Cnk^Am
kAmkDEC@?8m(92E H2D |F==:?’D 2?5 sF77J’D ;@3 H96? E96J 8@E @FE E96C6n (92E 5:5 E96J ?665 E@ 5@nk^DEC@?8mk^Am
kAm%@ :?7@C> E96 AF3=:4 23@FE E96 52?86C[ H9J E9:D 92AA6?65[ E96 6IE6?E @7 E96 AC@3=6>[ 2?5 H92E E96J’C6 5@:?8 E@ C6>65:2E6 E96 AC@3=6>] k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]A@=:E:4@]4@>^?6HD^a_ae^``^`b^722\@C56CD\?2E:@?H:56\8C@F?5:?8\@7\A2DD6?86C\A=2?6D\_``ee_cbQm(6 <66A 962C:?8 E92E E96J’C6 2D<:?8 7@C &$Sb_ 3:==:@?k^2m 2?5 >@C6 E@ C6A2:C E96 H9@=6 :?7C2DECF4EFC6 7@C E96 2:C EC277:4 4@?EC@= DJDE6>[ H9:49 :D 8C62E[ 3FE H92E 2C6 E96J 5@:?8 C:89E ?@Hnk^Am
kAmw@H 5@ H6 <?@H E92E 7=:89ED :? E96 2:C[ C:89E E9:D >:?FE6[ 2C6 2?J D276C E92? E96 @?6D J6DE6C52J[ 2 >:?FE6 367@C6 E96 8C@F?5 DE@An s@ H6 92G6 E92E :?7@C>2E:@?n x 5@?’E 766= 4@?7:56?E E92E E96J 255C6DD65 E92E BF6DE:@? 2AAC@AC:2E6=J] x 5@?’E E9:?< E92E E96 EC2G6=:?8 AF3=:4 6?E:C6=J 766=D D276 2E E9:D A@:?E @C 256BF2E6=J :?7@C>65 E92E E96J H:== 2CC:G6 2E E96:C 56DE:?2E:@?]k^Am
k7:8FC6mk:7C2>6 H:5E9lQcc_Q 96:89ElQae_Q DC4lQ9EEADi^^HHH]J@FEF36]4@>^6>365^|9aB\J_HxFgnH>@56lEC2?DA2C6?EU2>AjDE2CEl_Q 7C2>63@C56ClQ_Q 2==@H7F==D4C66?lQQmk^:7C2>6mk7:842AE:@?m!C6DD 4@?76C6?46 H:E9 |2C<H2J?6 |F==:? 2?5 $62? sF77J @? }@G] `b[ a_ae]k^7:842AE:@?mk^7:8FC6m
kAmkDEC@?8m%96J :?EC@5F465 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^C@==42==]4@>^724E32D6^ECF>A^EC2?D4C:AE^5@?2=5\ECF>A\AC6DD\3C:67:?8\>2C<H2J?6\>F==:?\D62?\5F77J\722\8C@F?5\DE@A\?@G6>36C\`b\a_ae^QmA@=:E:4D :?E@ E96 AC6DD 4@?76C6?46k^2m 2D H6==[ 5:5?’E E96Jnk^DEC@?8mk^Am
kAmxE’D D@>6E9:?8 E92E E96J 92G6 E96 AC6C@82E:G6 E@ 5@] %96J 2C6 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]4\DA2?]@C8^6G6?E^?6HD\4@?76C6?46^423:?6E\@77:4:2=D\3C:67\@?\?2E:@?H:56\8C@F?5\DE@A^cchdadQm3@E9 A@=:E:42= 2AA@:?E66D 2?5 >6>36CD @7 E96 423:?6Ek^2m] $@ x F?56CDE2?5 E92E 2DA64E[ 3FE x C62==J H:D9 E96J 925 255C6DD65 E96 EC2G6=:?8 AF3=:4’D 4@?46C?D >@C6 @G6CE=J 367@C6 >2<:?8 :E A@=:E:42=[ E92E E96J ?665 >@C6 >@?6J E@ 7:I E9:D] (6 <?@H E96J ?665 >@C6 >@?6J E@ 7:I :E[ 2?5 x’> DFC6 E96 p>6C:42? E2IA2J6CD 2C6 2H2C6 @7 E96 AC@3=6> 2?5 H:==:?8 E@ 7F?5 E9@D6 4@CC64E:@?D] qFE E96 >@C6 6IA65:6?E :DDF6D H@F=5 36[ H92E 23@FE k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]C6FE6CD]4@>^3FD:?6DD^26C@DA246\5676?D6^E9@FD2?5D\FD\7=:89ED\42?46=65\56=2J65\2:C\EC2G6=\DJDE6>\C64@G6CD\D9FE5@H?\a_ae\``\`c^Qm2== E96D6 A6@A=6 H9@ H6C6 DEF4< :? 2:CA@CEDk^2mnk^Am
kAmkDEC@?8m(6C6 E96C6 H2C?:?8 D:8?D 7@C E9:D 4C:D:Dnk^DEC@?8mk^Am
kAmx 36=:6G6 E96C6 H6C6] (6 925 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]?JE:>6D]4@>^a_ae^``^`b^FD^a_ab\8C@F?5\DE@A\722\A:=@E\H2C?:?8\DJDE6>]9E>=Qm2?@E96C 8C@F?5 DE@A 23@FE E9C66 J62CD 28@k^2m[ 5F6 E@ 2:C EC277:4 4@?EC@= AC@3=6>D[ 2?5 E92E :D k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^5@:]@C8^`_]c`bd^hfg`cdaafdhde]?`bhQmH92E H6 42== :? 4C:D:D 4@>>F?:42E:@?D 2 “AC@5C@>6k^2m[” 2 H2C?:?8 D:8? @7 =2C86C :>A6?5:?8 AC@3=6>D] (96? J@F D66 E96D6 EJA6D @7 H2C?:?8 D:8?D[ :E C62==J 8:G6D FD 2 C62D@? E@ E9:?< :E’D 8@:?8 E@ 86E H@CD6]k^Am
kAmkDEC@?8msF77J 5:5 D2J @? }@G] `b E92E[ 3642FD6 @7 E96 4@?5:E:@? @7 E96 2:C EC277:4 :?7C2DECF4EFC6[ “k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]<2<6]4@>^?6HD^?2E:@?2=^J@F\H:==\92G6\>@C6\@7\E96D6\F?=6DD\DJDE6>\FA8C2565\5F77J\D2JD\@7\@FE286\E92E\=65^2CE:4=60c434g42g\436a\c``h\27`6\e3_56`567d_d]9E>=QmJ@F H:== 92G6 >@C6k^2m” 8C@F?5 DE@AA286D] x7 J@F 925 2 A:646 @7 25G:46 7@C E96 25>:?:DEC2E:@? C682C5:?8 E96:C 7FEFC6 4@>>F?:42E:@?D[ H92E H@F=5 J@F E6== E96>nk^DEC@?8mk^Am
kAmx H@F=5 D2J E@ 4@>>F?:42E6 :? 25G2?46 2D >F49 2D A@DD:3=6[ D@ :7 J@F’C6 6G6? 4@?D:56C:?8 2 8C@F?5 DE@A[ :E >2J 36 2 8@@5 :562 E@ AFE @FE 2 AF3=:4 ?@E:46 D@ E92E A6@A=6 5@?’E 8@ E@ E96 2:CA@CE @? 2 G242E:@? 7=:89E[ >2J36 E96J 56=2J E92E 7@C 2 H66< @C EH@] xE >:89E 2=D@ 36 2 8@@5 :562 E@ DA62< H:E9 E96 2:C=:?6 :?5FDECJ C6AC6D6?E2E:G6D 2?5 D2J[ “w6C6’D H92E H6’C6 E9:?<:?8] r2? J@F H@C< H:E9 FDn w@H 42? H6 >2<6 E9:D 36EE6C 7@C E96 EC2G6=:?8 AF3=:4n” p=D@[ :7 `f @7 aa C@FE6CD H6C6 >2=7F?4E:@?:?8[ 4@F=5 H6 92G6 925 2 A2CE:2= 8C@F?5 DE@A 2E @?=J E96 27764E65 2:CA@CED[ C2E96C E92? 2 ?2E:@?H:56 DE@Ank^Am
kAmkDEC@?8m|J D:==J =2DE BF6DE:@?i s@ 4C:D:D 4@>>F?:42E:@?D 6IA6CED 92G6 2?J E96@C:6D 23@FE uC:52J E96 `bE9nk^DEC@?8mk^Am
kAm(6 4@?D:56C :E >@C6 @7 2 DFA6CDE:E:@?[ 3FE x 92G6 ?@E:465 E92E E96C6 5@6D E6?5 E@ 36 2 =@E @7 24E:G:EJ @? uC:52J E96 `bE9] xE >:89E 36 A=2463@ 67764E[ :E >:89E 36 3642FD6 H6 6IA64E D@>6E9:?8 325 E@ 92AA6? 2?5 H6’C6 =@@<:?8 7@C :E] qFE E92E 52J 5@6D D66> E@ 2=H2JD 92G6 D@>6 EJA6 @7 24E:G:EJ] %9:D :D 2=D@ H96? @C82?:K2E:@?D C6=62D6 325 ?6HD[ @7E6?E:>6D[ E96J D2J[ “{6E’D 9@=5 :E F?E:= uC:52J E96 `bE9[ 3642FD6 325 ?6HD :D 6IA64E65]” !6@A=6 H:== 2DDF>6[ @? uC:52J E96 `bE9[ E92E ?682E:G6 E9:?8D 2C6 8@:?8 E@ 4@>6 @FE[ D@ E96 D9@4< G2=F6 H@?’E 36 2D >F49]k^Am
kAmk6>m%9:D 2CE:4=6 :D C6AF3=:D965 7C@> k2 9C67lQ9EEAi^^E964@?G6CD2E:@?]4@>^FDnFE>0D@FC46l{66U2>AjFE>0>65:F>lC6=2E65\=:?<U2>AjFE>042>A2:8?lC6=2E65\=:?<\_U2>AjFE>04@?E6?El2CE:4=6\aheeebQm%96 r@?G6CD2E:@?k^2m[ 2 ?@?AC@7:E[ :?56A6?56?E ?6HD @C82?:K2E:@? 3C:?8:?8 J@F 724ED 2?5 ECFDEH@CE9J 2?2=JD:D E@ 96=A J@F >2<6 D6?D6 @7 @FC 4@>A=6I H@C=5] xE H2D HC:EE6? 3Ji kDA2?mk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^E964@?G6CD2E:@?]4@>^AC@7:=6D^D92??@?\2\3@H6?\feeh_dnFE>0D@FC46l{66U2>AjFE>0>65:F>lC6=2E65\=:?<U2>AjFE>042>A2:8?l3J=:?6\=:?<U2>AjFE>04@?E6?El2CE:4=6\aheeebQm$92??@? p] q@H6?k^2m[ k6>mk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^E964@?G6CD2E:@?]4@>^:?DE:EFE:@?D^F?:G6CD:EJ\@7\D@FE9\42C@=:?2\`fddnFE>0D@FC46l{66U2>AjFE>0>65:F>lC6=2E65\=:?<U2>AjFE>042>A2:8?l3J=:?6\=:?<U2>AjFE>04@?E6?El2CE:4=6\aheeebQm&?:G6CD:EJ @7 $@FE9 r2C@=:?2k^2mk^6>mk^DA2?mk^6>mk^Am
kAmkDEC@?8m#625 >@C6ik^DEC@?8mk^Am
kF=mk=:mk2 9C67lQ9EEAi^^E964@?G6CD2E:@?]4@>^8@@5\4@>>F?:42E:@?\:D\2\<6J\A2CE\@7\5:D2DE6C\C6DA@?D6\``hdh`nFE>0D@FC46l{66U2>AjFE>0>65:F>lC6=2E65\=:?<U2>AjFE>042>A2:8?lC6=2E65\=:?<_U2>AjFE>04@?E6?El2CE:4=6\aheeebQmv@@5 4@>>F?:42E:@? :D 2 <6J A2CE @7 5:D2DE6C C6DA@?D6k^2mk^=:mk=:mk2 9C67lQ9EEAi^^E964@?G6CD2E:@?]4@>^9@H\F<C2:?6D\D2GGJ\@77:4:2=\D@4:2=\>65:2\C2==:65\E96\H@C=5\2?5\C2:D65\E96\32C\7@C\?2E:@?2=\AC@A282?52\a`_``enFE>0D@FC46l{66U2>AjFE>0>65:F>lC6=2E65\=:?<U2>AjFE>042>A2:8?lC6=2E65\=:?<`U2>AjFE>04@?E6?El2CE:4=6\aheeebQmw@H &<C2:?6’D D2GGJ @77:4:2= D@4:2= >65:2 C2==:65 E96 H@C=5 2?5 C2:D65 E96 32C 7@C ?2E:@?2= AC@A282?52k^2mk^=:mk=:mk2 9C67lQ9EEAi^^E964@?G6CD2E:@?]4@>^3@6:?8\:D\5@:?8\4C:D:D\>2?286>6?E\2==\HC@?8\96C6D\H92E\2\4@>A2?J\?665D\E@\5@\E@\C6DE@C6\E96\AF3=:4D\ECFDE\``c_d`nFE>0D@FC46l{66U2>AjFE>0>65:F>lC6=2E65\=:?<U2>AjFE>042>A2:8?lC6=2E65\=:?<aU2>AjFE>04@?E6?El2CE:4=6\aheeebQmq@6:?8 :D 5@:?8 4C:D:D >2?286>6?E 2== HC@?8 – 96C6’D H92E 2 4@>A2?J ?665D E@ 5@ E@ C6DE@C6 E96 AF3=:4’D ECFDEk^2mk^=:mk^F=m
kA 4=2DDlQ7:?6\AC:?EQmk6>mkDA2?m$92??@? p] q@H6? C646:G65 7F?5:?8 :? a_aa\a_ab 7C@> %96 }2E:@?2= $4:6?46 u@F?52E:@? 2D !x @? 2 8C2?E DEF5J:?8 5:D2DE6C >2?286>6?E]k^DA2?mk^6>mk^Am
kAmk:>8 DC4lQ9EEADi^^4@F?E6C]E964@?G6CD2E:@?]4@>^4@?E6?E^aheeeb^4@F?E]8:7n5:DEC:3FE@Cl=66Q DEJ=6lQ96:89Ei`AIjH:5E9i`AIjQ 2=ElQQ ^mk^Am
