FAA Computer Outage Results in Wide-Spread Domestic Delays

Transportation Developing Story

Update Wednesday, Jan. 11 at 9:23 a.m. ET _______________________

The Notice to Air Missions system, which sends out real-time flights hazards and restrictions to all commercial airline pilots, suffered a nationwide outage earlier today, according to the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration.

While some functions have begun to come back online, the FAA was still working to fully restore the system. The agency had ordered airlines to "pause all domestic departures" until 9 a.m. Eastern Time to allow the FAA to "validate the integrity of flight and safety information." But by 8:15 a.m., departures had resumed at Newark Liberty International Airport and Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport, according to the FAA.

By 8:50 a.m., normal air traffic operations had begun to gradually resume across the United States, according to the FAA, which has lifted the ground stop.

The agency said it will continue to look into the cause of the initial problem.

The number of flights delayed so far today by 9 a.m. was 4,013 according to aviation tracker Flight Aware. Southwest Airlines had 1,677 or 44 percent of its schedule delayed, American Airlines had 522 or 17 percent of its schedule delayed, Delta Airlines had 466 or 16 percent delayed, and  United Airlines had 313 or 13 percent of its flights delayed, according to the tracker. 

Airlines are cautioning that delays and cancellations could continue to ripple through their schedules. United has issued a statement that it is working to restore its schedule and has activated a travel waiver for any customers who need to change their plans, including offering refunds for customers who no longer want to travel. 

Original post Wednesday, Jan. 11 at 8:43 a.m. ET______________________

The Notice to Air Missions system, which sends out real-time flights hazards and restrictions to all commercial airline pilots, has suffered a nationwide outage, according to the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration on Wednesday. 

While some functions have begun to come back online, according to the FAA, it was still working to fully restore the system. The agency has ordered airlines to "pause all domestic departures" until 9 a.m. Eastern Time to allow the FAA to "validate the integrity of flight and safety information." 

United Airlines sent a notice that it has temporarily delayed all domestic flights.