Update: Computer glitch causes flight delays in U.S.

Computerworld - A computer system used by airline pilots to file flight plans in the U.S. suffered a glitch this morning that led to some flight delays, according to news reports

The problem reportedly caused some air travel delays, with ABC reporting that flights nationwide were being delayed as of 8 a.m. ET. CNN later reported that the computer malfunction had been fixed.

According to CNN, the National Airspace Data Interchange Network in Atlanta wasn't working properly, forcing pilots to process their flight plans through the network's office in Salt Lake City.

A check of flight delay information at the Federal Aviation Administration's Air Traffic Control System Command Center initially indicated no sign of delays or computer problems.

But by 8:30 a.m. ET, the FAA status page had changed to indicate delays at Atlanta's Hartsfield airport where a "Traffic Management Program" was in effect. The agency blamed an "equipment outage" and advised travelers to check their airport for possible delays caused by the problem in Atlanta.

A check of several major airports, including those in Boston, New York City, Chicago and Dallas, showed that no flights destined for Atlanta would be allowed to depart before 10 a.m.

Although the problem was apparently fixed by mid-morning, the FAA site later showed several airports on the east coast with departure delays, some of them lasting more than an hour.

The problem occurred just a week before the Thanksgiving holiday, which is traditionally the busiest travel period of the year in the U.S.

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