US airspace shutdown follows SMART’s nationwide rollout

Several days after the nationwide expansion of an AI air traffic management system, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) ordered all domestic flights to stop. The agency said a communications problem had affected every air route traffic control center. It is not yet known whether the shutdown was connected to the SMART system: authorities are investigating that possibility, while the system’s developer, Air Space Intelligence, said its product did not cause the outage.

Communications failure halts US air travel after SMART launch

What is known about the outage

US Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy wrote on social media that flights were halted because of communications problems affecting every air route traffic control center. FAA technical staff are investigating the outage, he said.

The shutdown affected the country’s entire airspace. It was the first complete halt to air travel in the US since January 2023.

Department of Homeland Security Administrator Markwayne Mullin confirmed on a live broadcast that the agency was investigating a possible connection between the outage and the SMART system. He also said authorities were coordinating with other agencies.

What is known about SMART

SMART is an air route planning system developed by contractor Air Space Intelligence. It had already been used in Washington before its nationwide launch. This week, the FAA expanded its use across the country.

In a statement on November 10, the FAA said the system was intended to help air traffic controllers reduce delays and fuel consumption, as well as improve the passenger experience. The government spent nearly $1 billion developing SMART.

Air Space Intelligence rejected the suggestion that the outage was connected to its system. The company said the flight stoppage was not caused by SMART, its other products, or integration with the FAA and air traffic control services.

Why the launch drew attention

SMART’s nationwide rollout took place just days before flights were halted. The cause of the outage has not been established, but the timing has increased scrutiny of the system’s launch.

At any given moment, tens of thousands of people may be in the air over the United States. If an AI model gives an air traffic controller a bad recommendation, the consequences could be serious.

In the midterm elections earlier this month, US voters expressed broad opposition to AI, and data centers in particular, according to the source. The suggestion that an AI air traffic management system may have led to flights being halted could further undermine trust in the technology sector and the Donald Trump administration.

Dataist's take: so far, all that is known is that the SMART rollout coincided with the outage. The FAA is investigating a communications problem, while the developer denies that its system was involved. Assessing the risks of the rollout will require establishing the cause of the shutdown and understanding what role SMART actually plays in air traffic control.