LOS ANGELES (KNX) — The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has lifted its nationwide ground stop and flights are gradually resuming after a widespread computer outage. Los Angeles International Airport, however, is still experiencing delays and some cancellations in the aftermath.
There were more than 3,700 flights delayed by 5:30 a.m., more than all the delayed flights for the entirety of the previous day, according to the flight tracking website FlightAware. More than 640 have been canceled.
At Los Angeles International Airport, there were 22 flight cancellations as of late morning, as well as more than 300 delayed flights in and out of the airport, according to the flight-tracking website FlightAware. Hollywood Burbank Airport had 51 delayed flights and 14 cancellations, while John Wayne Airport in Santa Ana had 81 delays and nine cancellations. Long Beach had 30 delays and 10 cancellations.
It was unclear exactly how many of those delays and cancellations were specifically due to the FAA computer failure.
More than 21,000 flights were scheduled to take off in the U.S. today, mostly domestic trips, and about 1,840 international flights expected to fly to the U.S., according to aviation data firm Cirium.
The affected system, known as Notice to Air Missions (NOTAMs), is responsible for sending out flight hazards and real-time restrictions to pilots.
Before commencing a flight, pilots are required to consult NOTAMs, or Notices to Air Missions, which list potential adverse impacts on flights, from runway construction to the potential for icing. The system used to be telephone-based, with pilots calling dedicated flight service stations for the information, but has now moved online.
In a statement, the FAA said it was “working to fully restore the Notice to Air Missions system following an outage.”
Shortly before 4:30 a.m., the FAA ordered airlines to pause domestic departures until 6 a.m. so it could “validate the integrity of flight and safety information.”
By 6 a.m., it announced, “Normal air traffic operations are resuming gradually across the United States. ... The ground stop has been lifted. The agency continues to look into the cause of the initial problem.”
Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said in a tweet that he is in touch with the FAA and monitoring the situation.
The White House said that there is no evidence of a cyberattack, but President Joe Biden directed the Department of Transportation to investigate the cause of the disruption.
This is just the latest headache for travelers in the U.S. who faced flight cancellations over the holidays amid winter storms and a breakdown with staffing technology at Southwest Airlines. They also ran into long lines, lost baggage, and cancellations and delays over the summer as travel demand roared back from the COVID-19 pandemic and ran into staffing cutbacks at airports and airlines in the U.S. and Europe.
The FAA said that it would provide frequent updates as it made progress.
This is a developing story. Stay with KNX News for the latest.
The Associated Press and City News Service contributed to this report.