UK resumes US flights after FAA lifts ground stop; further disruption expected: Report

The authority cautioned that the lifting of the ground stop does not mean an immediate return to normal operations, as airlines are likely to face disruption The United Kingdom on Saturday resumed flights to and from the United States after the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) lifted its ground stop. The UK Civil Aviation Authority however warned that further disruption was expected as airlines work to rebook passengers affected by the suspension, news agency Reuters reported.A United Airlines airplane remains on the ground, while passengers wait at Benito Juarez International Airport, after aircraft at Mexican airports with US-bound flights were asked to stay on the ground during a US halt to airplane takeoffs that grounded thousands of flights and was subsequently lifted, in Mexico City. (REUTERS)Earlier, some flights from the UK to the US were delayed or cancelled on Saturday morning, the BBC reported. British Airways said that “it may take some time to get all flights on their way”.Also Read | US lifts ground stop after thousands of US flights halted, but disruptions may lastDeep DiveThe authority cautioned that the lifting of the ground stop does not mean an immediate return to normal operations, as airlines are likely to face continued disruption while clearing the backlog of affected passengers.Airlines are working to rebook passengers whose travel plans were affected by the suspension, with knock-on delays expected as operations gradually return to normal.The FAA grounded all departing flights across the country for only the second time since the September 11, 2001, attacks, citing "extraordinary circumstances" triggered by communications problems at regional air traffic control centres.The disruption led to more than 10,000 flight delays and around 4,000 cancellations, according to data from FlightAware.The outage appeared to have affected a telecommunications network managed by L3Harris Technologies, which handles critical radio frequencies used by air traffic controllers to communicate with pilots, a Wall Street Journal report said. However, it remained unclear whether the disruption had also affected radar feeds used to maintain safe separation between aircraft during flights.The ground stop caused widespread disruption at several major US airports, leaving thousands of passengers stranded in long queues as they waited for updates on their flights. More than 1.5 million people were scheduled to travel on flights after the pause took effect, according to aviation data firm Cirium.Follow the latest breaking news, major developments and agenda-setting stories from India and around the world with the newsdesk at Hindustan Times. Operating round the clock, the desk brings together experienced editors, reporters and correspondents to deliver fast, accurate and contextual reporting across subjects that influence public policy, governance, business, society and international affairs. The HT News Desk covers politics, elections, government policies, the economy, business and markets, science and technology, the environment, law and order, infrastructure, education, climate issues and geopolitics, while closely tracking developments across states, institutions and global capitals. The team also leads coverage of major breaking news events, policy announcements, court proceedings, natural disasters, public emergencies and significant international developments. Reports published by the newsdesk are based on information gathered from reporters on the ground, official statements, government agencies, court records, regulatory filings, recognised institutions and other authoritative sources. Stories undergo editorial scrutiny and verification processes to ensure accuracy, fairness and relevance, and are updated as events evolve and additional information becomes available. Whether covering a key political decision in New Delhi, an economic policy shift affecting millions, a landmark court ruling or a major global event, the HT News Desk aims to provide readers with reliable, fact-based journalism that delivers not only the latest developments but also the context and analysis needed to understand their wider implications.Read MoreUnited KingdomFederal Aviation Administration