Computer crashes foul U.S. flight plans

WASHINGTON, June 8 (UPI) -- Computer crashes at Federal Aviation Administration facilities in Atlanta and Salt Lake City caused major flight delays Friday on the East Coast.

An FAA spokeswoman told The Washington Post that bad weather -- thunderstorms in an area from Texas north to Canada -- added to the chaos.

At around midnight, the FAA's Web site was reporting major delays in takeoffs at airports in the New York area. Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey appeared to be hardest hit, with delays of more than four hours, while delays were close to four hours at Kennedy and well over two hours at LaGuardia.

Diane Spitaliere said a computer in Atlanta that processes weather and flight-plan information for airports across the country went down late Thursday or early Friday. Salt Lake City picked up much of the workload until a computer there crashed.

The FAA's real-time map appeared to show some delays at most major airports late Friday.

The agency advises travelers to check with airlines about individual flights.