US denies AI link to airport chaos after 16,000 flights canceled
FAA chief says no evidence AI caused US airport disruptions, citing technical faults as flight operations gradually resume after mass cancellations.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has stated there is no evidence connecting recent airport disruptions to artificial intelligence (AI) systems, attributing the issue to technical faults in equipment instead. FAA Administrator Brian Bedford confirmed that more than 16,000 flights were canceled over the weekend, causing significant disruption for tens of thousands of travelers.
Bedford emphasized that the problem lies in the transition from older communications systems to modern ones, with investigations pointing to technical faults rather than AI. US Transportation Secretary Sean Doody elaborated that the fault was linked to the replacement of outdated copper lines with fiber optics, affecting older devices.
The department does not believe the incident was caused by a cyberattack. With over 3,500 aircraft in the air during the cancellation, all flights were safely managed and returned. Doody noted that while 69% of old communications equipment has been replaced, the remaining outdated systems need to be upgraded. He urged Congress for funding to complete the modernization of air traffic control and communications systems, stressing the need for cooperation between the Republican and Democratic parties to enhance the aviation sector's technical infrastructure.
Written by urgent.news from Ajel English's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
