US flight chaos: 6,000 flights cancelled as aviation system recovers

Air travel across the United States is gradually returning to normal after a major technical failure disrupted the country’s aviation system, grounding thousands of flights and leaving passengers stranded at airports nationwide.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has lifted restrictions on flight departures, allowing airlines to gradually resume operations following an unprecedented disruption that affected air traffic communications and airport operations.

According to the latest reports, more than 14,500 flights were affected by schedule disruptions, while over 6,000 flights were reportedly cancelled, creating widespread difficulties for travellers and airlines.

US aviation authorities said there was currently no evidence of a cyberattack behind the incident. However, technical investigations are continuing to determine the exact cause of the failure.

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy warned that restoring the aviation system completely could take time, even though flight operations have started recovering. He also pointed to ageing air traffic control infrastructure as a major factor behind the problems.

The disruption initially affected more than 13,000 flights and 22 air traffic control facilities across the country. Problems involving radar systems, air traffic control operations and radio frequencies forced authorities to temporarily halt departures at airports nationwide.

Several major airports experienced serious operational difficulties. Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport reportedly ran out of capacity to accommodate additional arriving aircraft, while Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport approached a similar situation.

Some incoming flights faced diversions to alternative airports as landing capacity became increasingly limited. Passengers also reported that certain aircraft remained parked on airport runways, with travellers temporarily unable to leave their planes and enter terminal buildings.

Homeland Security officials said communication failures at air traffic control centres had played a central role in the disruption. Authorities also confirmed that President Donald Trump had been briefed about the situation.

Trump indicated that a cyberattack or artificial intelligence-related incident did not appear to be responsible for the crisis. Microsoft also clarified that the disruption had no connection with its services.

Meanwhile, the FAA’s technical experts and the FBI have launched investigations into the incident to establish what caused the widespread failure.

The disruption also affected international aviation, with European air traffic authorities reporting temporary suspensions of some flights travelling from Europe to the United States.

Separately, the US National Weather Service experienced internet and communication problems that affected access to weather information on its websites.

Although flight operations are gradually recovering, thousands of passengers continue to face delays and cancellations as airlines work to clear the backlog and restore normal schedules.