Airlines resumed flights after a system outage led U.S. authorities to temporarily ground planes nationwide early Wednesday, a dramatic disruption to the air-traffic system expected to cause ongoing delays and cancellations.
The Federal Aviation Administration said normal air traffic operations were “gradually” returning as it lifted the ground stop shortly before 9 a.m. Eastern time. The disruption stemmed from problems with the Notice to Air Missions system, or NOTAM, which conveys advisory information essential for flight operations.
The massive system failure is one of the most significant in recent decades for the FAA and comes after a year of tests of the nation’s air system as the return from COVID-19 stressed airlines and air-traffic operations.
