Flights departing for the United States from European airspace have reportedly been suspended following a major technical failure that disrupted air traffic control operations across America.
The European Organisation for the Safety of Air Navigation, Eurocontrol, announced that the suspension was implemented at the request of the United States Federal Aviation Administration, FAA.
The development followed a nationwide ground stop ordered by the FAA at 20:54 GMT on Friday after communication problems affected its 22 regional air traffic control centres.
The technical disruption reportedly caused widespread delays and cancellations, affecting thousands of flights across the United States.
According to flight-tracking platform FlightAware, more than 10,000 flights were delayed, while over 4,000 others were cancelled.
CBS News, citing multiple sources, reported that a software update to a communications network operated by L3Harris Technologies caused the system to reboot and crash, triggering the disruption.
The FBI reportedly did not believe the incident was caused by a cyberattack or criminal activity, while Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin said there was no indication of a threat to the United States.
However, some flights were exempted from the restrictions. San Francisco International Airport said Pacific-bound flights, including those travelling to Hawaii and Asia, had been cleared to depart.
Flight-tracking service Flightradar24 also reported a significant reduction in aircraft heading towards US airports, with the number falling to about 1,000, compared with more than 4,500 at the same time the previous week.
The disruption has also raised concerns among international airlines and airports, with several warning passengers of possible delays and further cancellations.
Meanwhile, US rail operator Amtrak reported problems with its website and mobile application amid higher-than-normal call volumes linked to the aviation shutdown.
Eurocontrol has 42 member countries, while Israel cooperates with the organisation under a special agreement despite not being a full member.
The suspension is expected to affect international air travel as airlines and aviation authorities work to contain the disruption.
Panic as US grounds flights nationwide, Europe suspends departures to America