America issued a nationwide flight shutdown across the country which triggered widespread travel chaos, leaving thousands of passengers stranded and disrupting domestic and international air travel. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) ordered the unprecedented ground stop following a telecommunications outage affecting air traffic control centres. However, the shutdown was lifted after hours of chaos.
Here are 10 key developments explaining the shutdown, its causes and its impact on travellers.
1. The FAA ordered a rare nationwide ground stop, suspending flight departures across the United States, citing “extraordinary circumstances and reasons of safety”, as per the BBC.
2. US authorities highlighted that the shutdown was caused by a telecommunications outage and network router failure affecting air traffic control centres across the country, disrupting critical aviation communications.
3. Airports nationwide confirmed the suspension of departures, with passengers reporting that aircraft were held at airport gates or stuck on tarmacs as operations came to a halt.
4. Aviation tracking data indicated that nearly 7,000 flights had halted their services, while more than 600 aircraft were diverted amid the widespread disruption, reported by FlightAware and Cirium.
5. An estimated 1.5 million passengers faced delayed or cancelled flights, with travellers stranded at airports and waiting for airlines to provide updated departure information, according to Aviation tracking reports.
6. Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin said there was no indication of an attack against the United States. He confirmed that all flights were accounted for and everyone was safe.
7. Officials clarified that the travel disruption due to communication outrage was not connected to the global Microsoft IT outage reported earlier in the week.
8. While departing flights were grounded or held at airports, aircraft already in the air were permitted to continue their journey safely.
9. The shutdown had international repercussions with overseas airports and airlines which includes Sydney Airport delaying or grounding flights bound for the United States.
10. United Airlines and Delta issued travel advisories, American Airlines warned that disruption could continue throughout the day, while United suspended domestic departures until the ground stop was lifted.
ALSO READ: US Flights Grounded LIVE: Nationwide Shutdown Lifted, Officials Assure 'No Threat To Public'
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