US Officials Deny Cyberattack as Cause of Flight Disruptions, Cite Aging Infrastructure
According to the International Desk of Webangah News Agency, President Donald Trump, in an interview with Fox News regarding the cancellation of flights across the United States, stated, ‘It does not seem that the flight stoppage was due to a cyberattack or artificial intelligence.’ He also suggested that the aviation crisis might be the result of relying on a system with old and defunct components.
The U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security announced, ‘No cyberattack was the cause of the flight stoppages.’ He added, ‘Everyone is safe, and the U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency has activated its affiliated centers.’ This U.S. official emphasized, ‘There was no cyberattack, and the government is continuing to complete the investigation and verification process.’ He stated, ‘The government is acting with unprecedented speed through the coordinated efforts of various agencies to fulfill its duties to citizens and ensure everyone’s safety.’ The Secretary of Homeland Security also announced, ‘The government is cooperating with airports, local communities, cities, and states to provide necessary assistance to travelers.’
Separately, the U.S. Secretary of Transportation, referring to the obsolescence of the country’s aviation infrastructure, said, ‘The U.S. air navigation system is very old, and many air traffic control towers are over 100 years old.’ He stressed, ‘The government must invest in modernizing these towers, as well as many airports across the country.’ The Secretary of Transportation stated that the country’s airspace reopened on Friday evening, but added, ‘The speed of air traffic recovery will be slow.’ He continued, ‘The United States is facing an emergency and is asking Congress to provide the necessary budget for modernizing the air transportation sector.’ According to him, the government is acting with unprecedented speed, but the available financial resources for modernizing this sector are insufficient. This U.S. Secretary emphasized, ‘With the provision of a new and advanced air traffic control system based on current technologies, such disruptions will not occur.’ He also announced, ‘The problem has been identified, and air traffic control centers are now active.’ The Secretary of Transportation, however, cautioned, ‘The reopening of airspace does not mean the immediate departure of all flights, and the return of air traffic to normal will be a gradual process.’
