New AI traffic control system is ‘being looked at’ as possible cause of airport ground stop: Live updates

The Federal Aviation Administration halted departures at airports across the United States after a telecommunications outage disrupted communications at air traffic control centres. The rare nationwide ground stop was imposed as a safety precaution, causing confusion for travellers and delays to college football teams travelling for away games.

The FAA said all aircraft already in the air had been accounted for and that international flights would be handled case by case; the order was due to remain in effect until at least 11 p.m. Eastern time on Friday. Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin said there was no indication of a cyberattack or terrorist threat. The article reports that the outage did not appear linked to the FAA’s new AI-supported SMART system, and its designer, ASI, said the system was not the cause.