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DOT Sec. Duffy blames router for issues that lead to nationwide ground stop
Developing story first seen 2 hours ago
A router involved in a routine upgrade of the US air traffic control system may have caused Friday’s nationwide ground stop, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said. The halt lasted more than four hours and was ordered because officials feared unstable information feeds could put aircraft communications at risk.
The router, installed in El Dorado, Arkansas, allegedly flooded other systems with more than 1,000 connection attempts about every five seconds. It and another router are being examined at an L3Harris laboratory in Florida as investigators look into possible installation or equipment faults. L3Harris says it has completed more than 70% of the transition from copper wiring to fibre; flight disruption continued on Sunday, though at a lower level than on Friday and Saturday.
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In short
- A router may have triggered Friday’s US flight ground stop.
- It reportedly sent over 1,000 connection attempts every five seconds.
- Investigators are examining equipment used in the copper-to-fibre upgrade.
How this story developed
- 2 minutes ago A router involved in a routine upgrade of the US air traffic control system may have caused Friday’s nationwide ground stop, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said.
Where outlets differ
Centre outlets 1
Only here: blames, router, issues, lead, nationwide
Right-leaning outlets 1
- Sean Duffy reveals when delays at airports should finally ease after pandemonium ground stopDaily Mail
Only here: sean, reveals, delays, airports, finally
Every side used: duffy, ground, stop
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The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Duffy’s account offers a plausible technical explanation for the ground stop: a router repeatedly flooding systems with connection attempts could have destabilised information feeds used by air traffic controllers. Given the potential consequences of unreliable communications, stopping flights while officials assessed the risk can be defended as a precaution, even though it caused substantial disruption.
The case against
The router has not yet been confirmed as the cause, and investigators are still examining the equipment and the possibility of installation faults. Attributing the disruption to one device before that inquiry is complete may overstate what is known and could draw attention from broader questions about the upgrade’s reliability, oversight and contingency planning.
Explained simply
US air traffic control relies on computer and communications networks to pass information between controllers and aircraft. The Federal Aviation Administration is replacing older copper connections with fibre as part of an upgrade, with L3Harris helping to carry out the work.
Sean Duffy is the US transport secretary, and L3Harris is the contractor involved in the transition. A router is a device that directs data between networks; problems with one can affect the flow of information other systems depend on.
A ground stop prevents aircraft from taking off, usually to manage a safety or operational concern. Disruptions to air traffic systems can delay flights across the country, so investigators are examining the equipment and upgrade process to understand what went wrong.
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