All flights across the US have been grounded after a computer glitch was discovered in the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) system.
The FAA said it is working to restore the system and was performing safety checks.
It said operations across its National Airspace System were affected.
US flights grounded
In a statement on social media it said: “The FAA is working to restore its Notice to Air Missions System. We are performing final validation checks and reloading the system now.
“Operations across the National Airspace System are affected.
“We will provide frequent updates as we make progress.”
According to flight-tracking website FlightAware.com there have already been 760 flights into, out of or domestically within the US delayed. 91 flights have been cancelled outright.
Earlier the failure of a key pilot notification system operated by the FAA disrupted air travel, with United Airlines. temporarily grounding flights to all destinations.
UAE carrier Etihad said that it was monitoring the situation, but there was no initial impact on its services.
In a statement to Arabian Business it said: “Etihad Airways is aware of a technical issue affecting all airline flightsin North America.
“At present this is not having an impact on our operation and our flights to US destinations currently in the air and preparing to depart this evening are operating as normal.
“We will monitor the situation closely and alert customers should the position change”.
In early reports, Bloomberg said scores of passengers due to fly domestically reported delays on social media, and there was no estimate available for the restoration of the Notice to Air Missions System, or Notams, which conveys urgent advisory information essential for flight operations.
A hotline has been activated, the FAA said on its website.
No new Notams or amendments have been processed after the system failed late on Tuesday night, the FAA said, adding that technicians are working to restore operations.
A Notam report is a notice containing information essential to personnel concerned with flight operations. It includes information such as runway closures, hazard warnings, or low-altitude construction obstacles.
Follow us on
