FAA: Bad file led to mega outage

According to the first findings of the aviation authority FAA, the disruption in US air traffic is apparently due to a faulty database file.

The FAA announced yesterday that there was no evidence of a hacker attack. But the investigations were still ongoing. The faulty file not only affected the main system but also the backup system, people familiar with the investigation said. Transport Minister Pete Buttigieg said on CNN that after the failure of the NOTAM (Notice to Air Missions) system, which is important for pilots to prepare for flights, the emergency system had started. But there were doubts as to whether it would run smoothly. A complete restart was therefore necessary, which prompted the FAA to stop all domestic flights for 90 minutes.

So far, 9.600 flights have been delayed due to the disruption, and more than 1.300 have been canceled, according to ORF. However, the number could still increase, and there are still impairments. Airlines expect air traffic to return to normal today. The impact on long-haul flights between the US and Europe was minor.