FAA lifts ground stop after computer outage impacts flights nationwide
CHICAGO (CBS)-- Flights nationwide are resuming after an FAA computer outage Wednesday morning.
The FAA ordered airlines to pause all domestic departures until 9 a.m. Eastern Time, 8 a.m. Central Time. The ground stop has been lifted.
The FAA released the following statement:
"Normal air traffic operations are resuming gradually across the United States following an overnight outage to the FAA's Notice to Air Missions (NOTAM) system that provides safety information to flight crews. The ground stop has been lifted."
The FAA is working to restore its Notice to Air Missions System. We are performing final validation checks and reloading the system now.
— The FAA ✈️ (@FAANews) January 11, 2023
Operations across the National Airspace System are affected.
We will provide frequent updates as we make progress.
Delays were reported at Chicago Airports.
The Chicago Department of Aviation said "residual delays or cancellations will likely continue throughout the day as a result of this morning's outage."
United Airlines confirmed all domestic flights are delayed.
Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre in a tweet said the president was briefed on the outage and a full investigation is being conducted by the Department of Transportation.
The President has been briefed by the Secretary of Transportation this morning on the FAA system outage. 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.
— Karine Jean-Pierre (@PressSec) January 11, 2023
The FAA says departures are resuming at Newark Liberty and Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson airports due to air traffic congestion in those areas.