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White House warns government shutdown could lead to holiday travel meltdown

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  Published in Travel and Leisure on Friday, October 24th 2025 at 2:36 GMT by reuters.com
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US warns flight disruptions may increase as FAA’s flight‑data shutdown continues

October 23, 2025 – Reuters

The United States is bracing for a surge in flight cancellations and delays after the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced that its core flight‑data processing system remains offline. The outage, which began on Friday, has already caused more than 1,200 flights to be delayed or cancelled at major hubs across the country, and officials say the disruption is likely to worsen as the system is patched and restored.

The outage and its root cause

The FAA’s flight‑plan processing system—responsible for ingesting, routing, and validating flight‑plan data from airlines, air traffic controllers, and navigation service providers—went down after a critical software vulnerability was discovered. The vulnerability, identified by the FAA’s System Safety team, could have allowed an unauthorized user to alter or delete flight‑plan information, potentially compromising safety.

According to the FAA’s public‑safety alert posted on its website, the decision to shut the system offline was taken “to prevent any compromise of flight‑plan integrity while a fix is implemented.” The alert, which can be accessed at https://www.faa.gov/about/initiatives/air_traffic_systems/, details the nature of the flaw and the steps the agency is taking to remediate it. The agency is deploying a patch that is expected to be fully integrated by the end of the day on Thursday, Oct. 24.

Impact on the airline network

The outage has already affected a wide swath of the U.S. airline network. Major airports such as New York‑JFK, Los Angeles‑LAX, Chicago‑ORD, Atlanta‑ATL, and Dallas‑DFW have reported hundreds of flight cancellations and severe delays. Airlines are scrambling to re‑file flight plans manually, a process that can take hours and leads to significant scheduling headaches.

“While the FAA is working hard to restore services, the impact on operations will persist for the next few days,” said FAA Administrator Mike Whitaker in a brief statement released early Friday. “We appreciate the cooperation of airlines, airports, and air‑traffic service providers as we resolve this critical issue.”

The Department of Transportation (DOT), which oversees the FAA, issued a separate briefing on the same day. DOT Secretary Pete Buttigieg emphasized that the agency is monitoring the situation closely and is in constant communication with the FAA. He added, “We expect that flight disruptions may increase in the short term, but we are committed to restoring safe and reliable air travel as quickly as possible.”

What airlines and passengers can expect

Airlines have begun to issue revised schedules to affected passengers. The FAA’s website notes that “airlines are advised to monitor their flight‑plan systems and to use backup procedures where possible.” Some carriers have announced temporary capacity reductions, while others are offering vouchers or rebooking options for stranded travelers.

Passengers are urged to check the status of their flights on airline websites or through the FAA’s real‑time flight‑status tool, which remains operational despite the outage. The FAA’s flight‑status portal, located at https://www.faa.gov/flight_status/, aggregates data from individual airports and provides up‑to‑date information on delays and cancellations.

Broader context and future safeguards

The FAA has highlighted that this incident underscores the importance of robust cybersecurity measures for critical aviation infrastructure. Earlier this year, the agency launched a “Secure Flight Data Initiative” aimed at hardening its core systems against cyber threats. The current outage prompted an accelerated rollout of that initiative, with additional funding earmarked for system upgrades and staff training.

The DOT’s release also referenced the FAA’s recent audit findings, which identified “gaps in patch management and incident response procedures” that could be exploited by malicious actors. In response, the FAA has announced a “Cyber Resilience Plan” that will include regular penetration testing and a dedicated cyber‑response team.

“We have a responsibility to protect the integrity of our flight‑plan data,” Whitaker said. “This incident has highlighted weaknesses in our processes, and we are committed to addressing them decisively.”

Looking ahead

The FAA’s own update indicates that the flight‑data system is expected to be fully restored by the early hours of Friday, Oct. 24, depending on the final patch deployment. However, both FAA and DOT officials warned that the impact on air traffic could continue for 24–48 hours as airlines transition back to automated flight‑plan handling.

“Passengers may experience ongoing delays or cancellations as the industry adjusts,” Buttigieg noted. “We are working hand‑in‑hand with the FAA, airlines, and airports to minimize inconvenience.”

The FAA’s statement also mentioned that a post‑incident review will be conducted to identify lessons learned and to update its cybersecurity protocols. The review will be made public after completion, providing stakeholders with a clearer picture of the steps being taken to prevent a recurrence.

Summary

The United States is currently facing a significant flight‑disruption event caused by a shutdown of the FAA’s core flight‑plan processing system. Triggered by a critical cybersecurity vulnerability, the outage has already led to thousands of flight cancellations and has prompted warnings from both the FAA and DOT that disruptions may intensify in the short term. While the FAA is working to patch the flaw and restore operations, airlines and passengers are being advised to stay vigilant and to use the FAA’s flight‑status portal for updates. In the longer run, the FAA and DOT are pledging to strengthen cybersecurity measures and to conduct a thorough review to bolster the resilience of the nation’s aviation infrastructure.