Flights Across United States Grounded Due To Computer System Glitch

The Federal Aviation Administration's computer system malfunctioned, resulting in the grounding of all flights and huge delays for millions of passengers.

(Representational Image)

Source : Getty

All flights across the United States have been grounded as the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) experiences a computer outage, according to US media reports.

In a statement, the FAA said, "The FAA is working to restore its Notice to Air Missions System. We are performing final validation checks and repopulating the system now. Operations across the National Airspace System are affected."

BREAKING: All flights across the US have been grounded due to a glitch with the Federal Aviation Administration's computer system, US media report.https://t.co/NYq7zGue5Q

📺 Sky 501, Virgin 602, Freeview 233 and YouTube pic.twitter.com/4tJQ6ApvWd

— Sky News (@SkyNews) January 11, 2023

The United States Notice to Air Missions (NOTAM) system failed, according to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

NOTAMs notified pilots of changes in the status of a flight and are required before a plane can take off.

In a Tweet, The FAA said that it is working to restore its Notice to Air Missions System, "we are performing final validation checks and reloading the system now. Operations across the National Airspace System are affected. We will provide frequent updates as we make progress."

The FAA is working to restore its Notice to Air Missions System. We are performing final validation checks and reloading the system now.

Operations across the National Airspace System are affected.

We will provide frequent updates as we make progress.

— The FAA ✈️ (@FAANews) January 11, 2023

In another Tweet, the FAA updated that it is still working to fully restore the Notice to Air Missions system following an outage. While some functions are beginning to come back online, National Airspace System operations remain limited.

Cleared Update No. 2 for all stakeholders: ⁰⁰The FAA is still working to fully restore the Notice to Air Missions system following an outage. ⁰⁰While some functions are beginning to come back on line, National Airspace System operations remain limited.

— The FAA ✈️ (@FAANews) January 11, 2023

As per a report by Fox News, while the FAA has not enforced a grounding of aircraft due to the outage, most airlines have chosen to ground their own plane due to the system's failure. The failure has so far resulted in some 400 cancelled flights across the US. 

Frustrated passengers have resorted to social media to complain about being stuck on the tarmac for hours on full planes at Los Angeles International Airport.

Bettina Inclán, a Twitter user, stated: "Update from our United pilot - The down system doesn't let him check flight plans and follow federal regulations. According to people here at DCA airport, it's a regulatory gray area if they can fly. Putting safety first, they are grounding flights until FAA fixes the system."

Update from our United pilot - The down system doesn't let him check flight plans and follow federal regulations. According to people here at DCA airport, it's a regulatory gray area if they can fly. Putting safety first, they are grounding flights until FAA fixes the system

— Bettina Inclán (@BettinaInclan) January 11, 2023

Flights from airports such as Tampa, Philadelphia, and Honolulu are allegedly delayed.

There have also been reports of delays at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport in Arlington, Virginia.

(With Inputs From Agencies)