Another Week, Another Meltdown
Excerpts from New York Times
Frequent fliers know that feeling well, particularly as air travel has roared back from pandemic lows: Their flight has been delayed, and then they receive little information about when — or if — it will take off, stoking feelings of anger and hopelessness.
But the Federal Aviation Administration system failure that caused more than 9,000 delays on Wednesday led to a slightly different dynamic for the frustrated passengers: This time, they didn’t have the airline to blame.
Paul Hudson, the president of FlyersRights.org, which represents airline consumers, called the shutdown “shocking” and potentially avoidable.
Mr. Hudson said that while the cause of the disruption is still unknown, it is clear that the F.A.A. needs to update its computer system and conduct more “stress tests,” such as drills conducted at airports and by airlines to prepare for emergencies.
In terminals across the country, just weeks after mass cancellations by Southwest Airlines left thousands of travelers stranded, many passengers were sanguine about yet another chaotic day for air travel.
Hacking of aviation computer system has been a concern for over 10 years. But yesterday’s national shutdown of all aviation except military is only the second time in history after 9/11. FAA needs to harden its air traffic control systems pronto before more shutdowns, ransom ware infections or plane crashes happen.
