FAA halts air traffic around southwest over computer issues

U.S

NEW YORK DAILY NEWS

Wednesday, April 30, 2014, 7:43 PM

Damian Dovarganes/ASSOCIATED PRESS Federal Aviation officials blamed technical issues in their Los Angeles Center for a ground stop order that prevented them from accepting additional flights into their airspace Wednesday.

Air traffic came to an abrupt halt in the southwest after a “ground stop” was issued because of computer issues, forcing several planes to be diverted, according to the Federal Aviation Administration.

CBS SF reported that two planes flying from San Francisco to Los Angeles were forced to completely turn back over the 3 p.m. EST-issued order which authorities said only prevented planes from taking off.

“The FAA’s Los Angeles Center air traffic control facility experienced technical issues and stopped accepting additional flights into the airspace managed by the facility for about an hour,” the FAA said in a statement to the Daily News.

“Some flights were diverted and the agency issued a nationwide ground stop for flights heading into the airspace managed by the center. The agency is gradually restoring the system.”

FREDERIC J. BROWN/AFP/Getty Images Airports affected included the Los Angeles International Airport, pictured, the Bob Hope Airport, John Wayne Airport, Ontario Airport, as well as airports in Las Vegas, Phoenix and Salt Lake City.

By 7 p.m. the issue appeared to have been largely resolved, with airports including Los Angeles International — the nation’s third-busiest airport — announcing flights resuming, however with an hour delay.

Other airports affected included the Bob Hope Airport, John Wayne Airport, Ontario Airport, as well as airports in Las Vegas, Phoenix and Salt Lake City.

ngolgowski@nydailynews.com

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