Thousands of US flights grounded as old technology causes air traffic control meltdown

Detailed summary

The stoppage was the first nationwide ground stop since January 2023

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Airlines across the U.S. spent Saturday clearing a backlog after the longest nationwide ground stop in 25 years forced more than 2,000 flight cancellations.

The shutdown, which lasted more than four hours, stranded passengers and left professional and college sports teams scrambling to find other ways to travel.

Officials in the Trump administration said new technology being added to the nation's air traffic control system overloaded antiquated equipment.

That, they said, caused “intermittent” communications and radar gaps, which led to the flight shutdown.

A limited number of domestic flights departed after the stop was lifted around 8.15pm ET.

But officials said the effects could be felt for days, with the system likely to be operating normally in time to handle the Thanksgiving travel rush.

The stoppage was the first nationwide ground stop since January 2023, when another key FAA computer system that sends notices to pilots malfunctioned.

Emily Brown and her 14-year-old daughter waited more than four hours at the Dallas airport on Friday for their flight to Columbus, Ohio, before giving up.

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