FAA: Data from U-2 spy plane caused computer issue

Federal aviation officials say the air traffic control system around Los Angeles shut down last week because data from the flight plan of a U-2 spy plane confused software that runs the system.

A backup system helped safely guide flights already in the air, but hundreds of planes scheduled to fly to Southern California were grounded.

The FAA said in a statement that software at an air traffic control facility north of Los Angeles “experienced problems while processing a flight plan filed for a U-2.”

The spy plane flies at around 60,000 feet under “visual flight rules.” According to the FAA, a computer perceived a conflict between the altitude and the use of visual flight rules and began trying to route the plane to 10,000 feet, overwhelming the software.