An outage affecting air traffic control in Dallas led to significant disruptions, with radar and communication losses reported at local airports, causing flights to halt. The FAA confirmed the issue stemmed from equipment problems with local telephone companies, which are crucial for connecting air traffic control facilities.
After a temporary shutdown, some flights resumed around 3:30 PM. As of 4:30 PM, nearly 645 flights were delayed and 183 canceled at Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (DFW), with 165 delays at Love Field Airport. Passengers faced long waits to rebook due to the chaos, and airlines like American and Southwest allowed travel adjustments without fees.
This incident echoed a previous air traffic control failure in April that led to numerous flight delays due to similar telecommunications issues. Transportation Director Sean Duffy emphasized the need for a new air traffic control system to prevent future occurrences, highlighting the significant costs involved.
Source link