A computer glitch at the Federal Aviation Administration delayed airline traffic across much of the nation early Wednesday, and the agency said it was working to restore the system.
The FAA instituted a nationwide pause on departures, known as a ground stop, for part of the morning Wednesday but that order had been lifted by 9 a.m. ET.
More than 6,400 flights within, into, or out of the U.S. were delayed as of 11 a.m. ET, according to the flight-tracking website FlightAware, and more than 1,000 flights in the country were canceled. With 19,621 domestic flights scheduled on Monday, according to Cirium data, those numbers are almost certain to rise as airlines recover their operations.
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United Airlines issued a waiver for travelers at certain airports, allowing passengers whose flights were affected to alter their plans without paying a change fee or fare difference.
Southwest Airlines also announced a more flexible change policy for affected passengers.
Airlines for America, the trade group that represents major U.S. airlines, urged travelers to check with their carrier throughout the day.
“For real time updates related to any potential delays or cancellations caused by the FAA’s system disruptions, travelers should download their airline’s app, visit the carrier’s website and ensure their contact information is accurate on travel records,” the group said.
The FAA said it was working to fully restore the affected Notice to Air Mission (NOTAM) system, which provides pilots with safety information for the nation’s airports.
Ahmed Abdelghan, associate dean for research at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University’s David B. O’Maley College of Business told USA TODAY that passengers should expect headaches as airlines recover their operations through the day.
“Just be patient and get updates from the airline websites,” he said. “We will see that the impact is going to propagate through the day.”
Contributing: John Bacon, USA TODAY
Did the FAA shut down flights?
Not exactly. The NOTAM system provides pilots with crucial safety information for every flight, and the FAA temporarily grounded new departures while it addresses the outage.
It’s the first time departures have been halted nationwide since 9/11.
“This is rare… The fact that they had to initiate a ground stop across the United States, that hasn’t happened since September 11th, 2001. So you get an idea of the magnitude of this,” Mike McCormick, assistant professor in applied aviation sciences at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, told reporters.
For now, most airlines seem to expect to run more or less their full schedules for the day, though many flights are likely to be delayed once departures are allowed again.
Washington weighs in
White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre confirmed early Wednesday that President Joe Biden had been briefed by Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg on the situation.
“There is no evidence of a cyberattack at this point, but the President directed DOT to conduct a full investigation into the causes. The FAA will provide regular updates,” Jean-Pierre said on Twitter.
Buttigieg tweeted that the FAA had concluded that the safety system impacted by the outage overnight was completely restored, and said he had “directed an after-action process to determine root causes and recommend next steps.”
Nevertheless, with the FAA reauthorization coming up, Sen. Maria Cantwell, Chair of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation said in a statement that the committee “will be looking into what caused this outage and how redundancy plays a role in preventing future outages.”
What you’re entitled to if your flight is canceled or delayed
If your flight is canceled, the Department of Transportation requires airlines to refund your ticket if you choose not to rebook your travel, even if you bought a nonrefundable fare. In the event of a delay, policies vary by airline, but you may be entitled to compensation based on the length of your wait and other factors.
Check out USA TODAY’S summary of what you’re owed.
What is the Notice to Air Missions (NOTAM) system?
A Notice to Air Missions is a notice that provides pilots and other flight personnel with real-time, safety information concerning flight operations and airports.
NOTAM lists potential hazards and conditions that can impact flights – from runway construction or possible icing to a change in an aeronautical facility or flight service.
Pilots are required to consult NOTAMs before starting every flight.
The FAA notes that a NOTAM “states the abnormal status of a component of the National Airspace System (NAS) – not the normal status.” The federal agency adds that NOTAMs are “not known far enough in advance to be publicized by other means.”
“It’s a safety issue,” Abdelghan said. “God forbid if the pilots are not updated with abnormal conditions it might lead to some serious problems like accidents or something like that.”
The NOTAM system was telephone-based in the past, with pilots calling flight service stations for the information, but it has now moved online.
— Wyatte Grantham-Philips, USA TODAY. The Associated Press
