American airspace was completely closed for several hours this afternoon Belgian time. All domestic flights, as well as overseas flights and incoming international flights, have been postponed. The cause was a computer malfunction, in particular in the so-called Notice to Air Mission Systems (NOTAMs), an information system that informs pilots of any problems that may arise during the flight.
NOTAMs provide information such as weather forecasts, active taxiways, or airspace closures due to a space launch, presidential flight, or volcanic eruption. At all stages of their education, pilots are trained to rely on NOTAM data. It was precisely that system that turned out to be down today.
As the system is necessary and mandatory, all flights have been temporarily suspended for safety reasons. The US aviation agency FAA has also announced an emergency number. After a few hours, the system rebooted. The flight ban was lifted around 15:00 Belgian time. Since then, planes have been allowed to take off and land (from) American airports (in dribs and drabs).
