US lifts nationwide flight shutdown caused by communications failure
- Some 15,000 flights delayed or canceled, FlightRadar24 says
The FAA lifted a nationwide ground stop after a communications failure caused widespread flight cancellations and delays, highlighting significant strain on the US air traffic control system.
- Impact of the communications failure on air travel.
- Strain on the US air traffic control system.
- Comparison to previous nationwide ground stops.
WASHINGTON: The US Federal Aviation Administration lifted a nationwide ground stop on Friday after a communications failure at air traffic control centers caused chaos at airports and triggered the longest nationwide shutdown since the September 11, 2001, attacks.
More than 4,700 flights were canceled and 10,000 delayed on Friday, while another 700 had already been canceled for Saturday, according to FlightRadar24. Aviation analysts said it could take days for airlines to restore their schedules after a nationwide grounding that lasted more than four hours.
The Department of Homeland Security said there were no signs the outage was caused by a cyberattack.
READ ALSO: US grounds flights nationwide after air traffic control communications outage
The failure is the latest and most dramatic sign of strain on a US air traffic control system beset by equipment and communications problems, controller shortages and aging infrastructure.
The only other nationwide ground stop since the September 11 attacks came in January 2023, when the FAA halted domestic departures for around 90 minutes.
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