Flight Services Halted Across the US Amid Technical Glitch
New York, November 14: Flight services have been halted across the United States following a significant disruption in Microsoft 365 services. The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has temporarily grounded flights at airports nationwide. This decision was made due to communication-related technical issues at regional air traffic control centers. Sean Duffy, head of the U.S. Department of Transportation, stated that the national ground stop was implemented due to these communication difficulties at traffic control centers. However, it has now been reported that flight services are being resumed. Authorities have denied any possibility of a cyberattack.
According to reports, flights already in the air are allowed to reach their destinations, but those on the ground are not permitted to take off. An American journalist noted that the decision was made due to issues with rolling frequency. The radio communication system used by pilots to communicate with air traffic control has been severely impacted, making it risky to operate flights. However, the notice issued did not clarify all details, including when flight services would fully resume.
Over 7,000 Flights Grounded
According to Reuters, more than 7,000 flights have been grounded in the U.S. This incident mirrors a similar occurrence in 2023 when flight services were halted nationwide, although the situation returned to normal within a few hours. Currently, several AI tools are being utilized in air traffic control. Experts suggest that AI could also be a contributing factor to this issue, as a specific tool was activated in air traffic control on November 12.
Multiple reports indicate that communication services are improving in several areas. An expert mentioned that if the same problem persists for another six hours, it could take up to two days to resolve. Previously, disruptions in Microsoft’s cloud services affected Indian aviation companies, causing domestic airlines like IndiGo, Air India, and Akasa Air to face challenges in their customer support services via email, making it difficult to address passenger inquiries.