FAA: ‘Automation problem’ that disrupted air traffic, including some flights at Myrtle Beach International, now resolved

The Federal Aviation Administration says an “automation problem” that snarled East Coast air traffic Saturday has been resolved.

The agency said that a computer system at an air traffic center in Leesburg, Va., that controllers use to direct high-altitude flights was back in service, and that officials were expected to have lifted any remaining order to hold planes on the ground by about 4 p.m.

The problems started around 12:30 p.m., said Kirk Lovell, spokesman for Myrtle Beach International Airport.

“It’s just had a ripple effect throughout the entire system,” he said. “So it’s impacted flights in and out all day long. There’s been a lot of cancellations.”

The FAA said it is continuing to investigate the root cause of the problem, and was working closely with the airlines to minimize impacts to travelers.

Information posted online by the FAA indicated that the problem concerned the En Route Automation Modernization computer system, also known as ERAM.

Lovell suggests travelers check with their airlines for the latest flight information.

“It’s a bad day to be traveling,” he said. “It’s going to take several days to resolve all the delays and the displaced passengers.”

This story was originally published August 15, 2015 at 5:26 PM with the headline "FAA: ‘Automation problem’ that disrupted air traffic, including some flights at Myrtle Beach International, now resolved."