A nationwide flight stoppage in the United States lasted about five hours and was described as the longest in 25 years. It was said to have been caused by outdated air traffic control communication equipment becoming overloaded. The FAA then released the airspace, allowing air traffic to resume gradually.

Passengers remained stranded or faced delays at airports from Boston to Seattle and New York to Los Angeles. Travellers reported waiting for luggage and information, while flights were cancelled, delayed or returned to the gate. Airline analysts said it could take days to restore schedules, and passengers were advised to check their flight status before going to the airport.