The Federal Aviation Administration believes it knows what caused a computer outage that grounded flights last week.
The agency says a preliminary review determined that “contract personnel unintentionally deleted files while working to correct the synchronization between the live primary database and the backup database.”
The FAA says it has found no evidence of a cyberattack or malicious intent.
Most US airports held planes at the gate for about two hours on the morning of 11 January until the situation was resolved. Planes were still allowed to land.
The system affected is known as the Notice to Air Mission System.
NOTAMs used to be available through a hotline but this was phased out with the Internet. Alerts range from mundane information about construction at airports to immediate flight restrictions or broken equipment.
All aircraft, including commercial and military flights, must route through the system.
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