Computer glitch causes flight delays

Tuesday, October 18th 2005, 3:17 pm

By: News On 6

OLATHE, Kan. (AP) _ The Federal Aviation Administration said today there was one-hour computer failure Sunday at a facility monitoring flights in four Midwestern states, including Oklahoma.

FAA spokesman Tony Molinaro says the main computer at the Kansas City Air Route Traffic Control Center quit working about 5 pm and delayed 28 flights, but put no passengers in danger.

He says the center tracks planes flying at high altitudes in parts of Oklahoma, Kansas, Missouri and Illinois.

Air traffic controllers never lost radar contact with the planes, but didn't have information such as flight numbers, air speed and type of aircraft. Molinaro says traffic controllers increased the distance between planes by one to two miles.