US Transport Secretary: Restoring Air Travel to Normal Will Take Some Time
Sean Duffy points to the need for $50 billion to update systems.
Translated by Qiyas from الراي — Original source
U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said early Saturday that restoring normal air travel in the United States will take some time, noting that reopening airspace does not mean all flights will resume immediately, as operations will return gradually.
Speaking at a joint press conference with Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin, Duffy said authorities had identified the glitch that caused the disruption to air travel and that air traffic control centers and approach control facilities were back online.
He confirmed that all passengers and flight crews were safe and that no flights were at risk.
Duffy explained that approximately 3,500 aircraft were in the air at the time the flight suspension order was issued following a communications problem between aircraft and radar systems. He added that authorities had reviewed what happened, pinpointed the source of the glitch, and restored the affected systems.
He pointed out that the incident highlighted the urgent need to modernize the aviation infrastructure, noting that some air navigation and surveillance systems date back decades, while some air traffic control towers are over 100 years old.
Duffy stressed that the United States needs about $50 billion to modernize air traffic control systems, along with investments in airports and control towers across the country. He warned that if Congress fails to provide the necessary funding, it will affect the safety and efficiency of the air navigation system.
He added that a presidential team is working on creating a new, advanced air traffic management system, but Congress has not approved the required funding. He emphasized that current financial resources are insufficient to modernize the air transport sector and that urgent funding is needed to address the emergency.
In the same vein, the U.S. Homeland Security Secretary said the department is coordinating with airports, local communities, cities, and states to ensure assistance is provided to stranded passengers affected by the air travel disruption. Mullin confirmed that no cyberattack was behind the halt in air traffic, noting that investigations are ongoing to determine all circumstances surrounding the incident.
