America's skies grounded by own tech: Here's how
The United States air traffic control system, outdated and struggling with modern technology, caused a nationwide disruption on Friday. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) grounded all flights across the country due to communications problems at regional air traffic control centers, citing safety concerns. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy blamed the country's aging analog infrastructure, while Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin attributed the issue to the introduction of new technology overwhelming the old system.
The FAA lifted the restriction after several hours, but restoring normal flight operations was expected to take time. The incident raised concerns about the state of America's aviation infrastructure, prompting the Trump administration to seek billions of dollars in additional funding for modernization. Around 3,500 aircraft were in the air when the ground stop began, with the number dropping to fewer than 400 by the time it ended.
More than 600 flights were diverted, affecting over 1.5 million passengers, while international travel was also impacted.
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