Flights resume at Atlanta airport after temporary grounding

ATLANTA, Ga. — Flight delays and cancellations eased at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport Wednesday afternoon after the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) temporarily grounded thousands of domestic flights nationwide following a computer system breakdown earlier in the day.

Thousands of flights were delayed after a key pilot information notification system called Notice to Air Missions (NOTAM) failed.

The system alerts pilots to critical flight issues like weather, runway closures, or construction that could impact their flights.

[DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]

“That’s how pilots in their pre-flight planning know the current and projected status of their flights,” Paul Heron, former FAA inspector told Channel 2′s Tom Regan.

Heron said the breakdown was likely the result of antiquated programming.

“It is an older system. It could use updating. This seems more of an automation problem demand on the system

and the age of the system, the capacity of the system becoming a little outdated,” Heron said.

Officials said there was no evidence of a cyber-attack.

TRENDING STORIES:

• Gov. says he wants to give you an income tax refund again… and homeowners a break too
• DFCS said 12-year-old ‘not in danger’ months before being killed near Atlantic Station
• Man kills daughter with special needs in murder-suicide, Forsyth deputies say

Flights resumed by mid-morning following delays that lasted several hours.

“I’m going to Newark Airport. My flight has been delayed about an hour and a half.” traveler Lindsey Sandy said.

Aviation watchers said this was the largest flight grounding caused by a technology breakdown.

They also said delays could linger in air traffic systems for several days as a result of the abrupt shutdown.

[SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter]

IN OTHER NEWS:

Vince Dooley's wife reflects on how he would feel watching the Bulldogs repeat as champions

©2022 Cox Media Group