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FAA Glitch Causes Widespread Flight Delays

By Nick McMaster,  Newser Staff

Posted Aug 26, 2008 4:00 PM CDT

(Newser) – A computer glitch in an FAA computer system caused flight delays around the country today, the Wall Street Journal reports. The situation appeared to be easing this evening as airports—Atlanta, Chicago, and Boston were hardest hit—got back on track. The snag hit one of two FAA facilities that processes flight-approval plans. Air-traffic controllers said the error did not pose any safety risks, but it has raised questions about whether the FAA needs a better back-up system.



This framegrab from video, provided by CNN, shows the large number of commercial flights affected by a communication failure at a Georgia facility that processes flight plans.
This framegrab from video, provided by CNN, shows the large number of commercial flights affected by a communication failure at a Georgia facility that processes flight plans.   (AP Photo/CNN)
The Federal Aviation Administration said there were no immediate safety problems from the computer error that caused hundreds of flights to be delayed today.
The Federal Aviation Administration said there were no immediate safety problems from the computer error that caused hundreds of flights to be delayed today.   (AP Photo)
An American Airlines aircraft taxis at Newark Liberty International Airport Friday, June 27, 2008, in Newark, N.J.
An American Airlines aircraft taxis at Newark Liberty International Airport Friday, June 27, 2008, in Newark, N.J.   (AP Photo/Mel Evans)
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