US authorities lift nationwide air traffic stop after four hours

What Happened

United States aviation authorities canceled a nationwide ground stop on Friday after a four-hour disruption halted air travel across the country. The Federal Aviation Administration stopped all flights after a data overload crippled air traffic control communications and radar systems. Stranded travelers waited in airports, including LaGuardia Airport in New York, while systems were brought back online.

Context

A nationwide ground stop is a rare emergency step used to keep passengers safe when critical air traffic systems fail. Such interruptions can cause major delays that ripple across airports for the rest of the day as schedules try to get back on track.