FAA outage updates: 10,000+ flights delayed, canceled

A computer glitch at the Federal Aviation Administration delayed airline traffic across much of the nation early Wednesday, and the agency said it was investigating what caused the issue as flights resumed.

The FAA instituted a nationwide pause on departures, known as a ground stop, for about 90 minutes Wednesday morning, but that order had been lifted by 9 a.m. ET.

Just before 8:30 p.m. ET, more than 10,000 flights within, into, or out of the U.S. were delayed according to the flight-tracking website FlightAware, and more than 1,300 flights in the country were canceled. With 19,621 domestic flights scheduled on Monday, according to Cirium data, those numbers have been rising as airlines recover their operations.

On Wednesday afternoon, NAV Canada, the country's air traffic control organization, posted a tweet saying its NOTAM system was experiencing technical issues as well, but added that the problem was not resulting in flight delays so far.

Flight delayed or canceled?:What you need to know and what airlines owe travelers

My flight was canceled but I got most of my costs covered (after 3 months)

Airlines for America, the trade group that represents major U.S. airlines, urged travelers to check with their carriers throughout the day, saying "travelers should download their airline's app, visit the carrier's website and ensure their contact information is accurate on travel records."

The FAA said it was working to fully restore the affected Notice to Air Mission (NOTAM) system, which provides pilots with safety information for the nation's airports. On Wednesday night, the FAA said its preliminary findings traced the root cause of the outage to a "damaged database file."

"The FAA is working diligently to further pinpoint the causes of this issue and take all needed steps to prevent this kind of disruption from happening again," the agency said.

Contributing: John Bacon, USA TODAY

Passengers face delays, cancellations: 'I'm frustrated, but I smell like passion fruit'

The issues disrupted travel plans across the country.

When Nikkee Porcaro first heard her flight had been delayed Wednesday, she felt a sense of dread. On her way to Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport, she received a text that her Southwest Airlines flight to Tampa, Florida, was delayed by 40 minutes.

"But I wasn't upset about the 40 (minutes)," she told USA TODAY. "I knew it was a harbinger of things to come."

She was right.

The 7:40 a.m. flight was delayed several more times, before finally taking off shortly after noon, forcing the 37-year-old to miss the beginning of New York Yankees Fantasy Camp.

Porcaro killed time by doing some shopping in the terminal, buying essential oils at the Body Shop. "I walked out with four items I didn't need, but I'm very happy with, and now I'm frustrated, but I smell like passion fruit," she said.

She eventually made it to Tampa and said she does not blame Southwest for the delay, but the experience has raised concerns about her return trip later this month.

"If this can happen on January 11, who says it can't happen on January 22?" she pondered.

Ahmed Abdelghany, associate dean for research at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University's David B. O’Maley College of Business told USA TODAY that passengers should expect headaches as airlines recover their operations through the day.

"Just be patient and get updates from the airline websites," he said. "We will see that the impact is going to propagate through the day."

— Nathan Diller, USA TODAY

Did the FAA shut down flights?

Not exactly. The NOTAM system provides pilots with crucial safety information for every flight, and the FAA temporarily grounded new departures while it addresses the outage.

It's the first time departures have been halted nationwide since 9/11.

"This is rare... The fact that they had to initiate a ground stop across the United States, that hasn't happened since September 11th, 2001. So you get an idea of the magnitude of this," Mike McCormick, assistant professor in applied aviation sciences at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, told reporters.

For now, most airlines seem to expect to run more or less their full schedules for the day, though many flights are likely to be delayed once departures are allowed again.

Washington weighs in

White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre confirmed early Wednesday that President Joe Biden had been briefed by Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg on the situation.

"There is no evidence of a cyberattack at this point, but the President directed DOT to conduct a full investigation into the causes. The FAA will provide regular updates," Jean-Pierre said on Twitter.

Buttigieg tweeted that the FAA had concluded that the safety system impacted by the outage overnight was completely restored, and said he had "directed an after-action process to determine root causes and recommend next steps."

Nevertheless, with the FAA reauthorization coming up, Sen. Maria Cantwell, Chair of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, said in a statement that the committee "will be looking into what caused this outage and how redundancy plays a role in preventing future outages."

— Josh Rivera, USA TODAY

What you're entitled to if your flight is canceled or delayed

If your flight is canceled, the Department of Transportation requires airlines to refund your ticket if you choose not to rebook your travel, even if you bought a nonrefundable fare. In the event of a delay, policies vary by airline, but you may be entitled to compensation based on the length of your wait and other factors.

Check out USA TODAY'S summary of what you're owed.

What is the Notice to Air Missions (NOTAM) system?

A Notice to Air Missions provides pilots and other flight personnel with real-time, safety information concerning flight operations and airports.

NOTAM lists potential hazards and conditions that can impact flights – from runway construction or possible icing to a change in an aeronautical facility or flight service.

Pilots are required to consult NOTAMs before starting every flight.

The FAA notes that a NOTAM “states the abnormal status of a component of the National Airspace System (NAS) – not the normal status.” The federal agency adds that NOTAMs are “not known far enough in advance to be publicized by other means.”

What is the NOTAM system? The FAA outage causing flight delays across the US, explained.

"It’s a safety issue," Abdelghan said. "God forbid if the pilots are not updated with abnormal conditions it might lead to some serious problems like accidents or something like that."

The NOTAM system was telephone-based in the past, with pilots calling flight service stations for the information, but it has now moved online.

— Wyatte Grantham-Philips, USA TODAY. The Associated Press

What caused the FAA's NOTAM outage? Experts say old tech played ...

More than 10,000 flights in the U.S. were delayed or canceled as a technical failure forced the Federal Aviation Administration to pause departures nationwide for about 90 minutes Wednesday morning.

According to the agency, an outage affecting the Notice to Air Missions (NOTAM) system, which alerts pilots to safety issues at and around the nation's airports, was behind the disruption.

The FAA has not yet identified a specific cause of the failure, but experts told USA TODAY that the U.S. air traffic control system often relies on outdated technology to keep things moving, and a computer glitch of some kind probably was responsible.

The latest: Thousands of flights delayed, canceled across US after FAA computer outage

'A huge vulnerability':Lawmakers vow probe of FAA outage grounding thousands of flights

With the FAA up for reauthorization in Congress this year, those same experts said they hope the government uses the opportunity to fund needed upgrades to the agency's IT systems.

What is the NOTAM system?

A Notice to Air Missions provides pilots and other flight personnel with real-time safety information on flight operations and airports.

NOTAMs list potential hazards and conditions that can affect flights – from runway construction or possible icing to a change in an aeronautical facility or flight service.

Pilots are required to consult NOTAMs before starting every flight.

The FAA notes that a NOTAM "states the abnormal status of a component of the National Airspace System (NAS) – not the normal status," adding that NOTAMs are "not known far enough in advance to be publicized by other means."

What is the NOTAM system? The FAA outage causing flight delays across the US, explained.

"It's a safety issue," Ahmed Abdelghany, associate dean for research at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University's David B. O’Maley College of Business, told USA TODAY. "God forbid if the pilots are not updated with abnormal conditions – it might lead to some serious problems like accidents or something like that."

The NOTAM system used to be telephone-based, with pilots calling flight service stations for the information, but that process moved online.

What caused the NOTAM failure on Wednesday?

The FAA said it's investigating the problem but hasn't determined an official cause. But experts told USA TODAY that IT issues are a likely culprit.

Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said he directed "an after-action process to determine root causes" and make recommendations for how to address them.

"Similar to what Southwest saw last month with difficulties in using an antiquated system to handle a major weather disruption to the system, it’s highly likely that the FAA saw this problem exacerbated because they were running on older technologies," said Laurie Garrow, a professor of civil engineering that specializes in aviation at Georgia Tech.

Mark Dombroff, an aviation lawyer and partner at Fox Rothschild who formerly worked with the FAA and Department of Justice, compared the NOTAM system to the computers we all use every day.

Flight delayed or canceled? What you need to know and what airlines owe travelers

"Our systems still crash," he said. "You shut your system down, and you reboot it. ... The system comes back, and you continue to work it."

But, he said, the FAA will investigate the cause to ensure it doesn't happen again.

Another expert said Wednesday's failure highlights a need to make the NOTAM system more redundant.

"It wouldn't matter whether somebody kicked the cord or whether they failed the server for some reason. If it's a single point of failure, there's a probability of it (happening) again," said Robert W. Mann, an aviation consultant in Port Washington, New York. "I would say the same thing about Southwest's crew reassignment system, but it's easier said than it is done. ... In both cases, it's going to require FAA validation of the replacement system while you chug along using the steam gauge version of that system."

How can the FAA prevent a similar failure in the future?

The experts who spoke to USA TODAY all agreed that the FAA's back-end technology needs an upgrade.

"I hope it’s a call for more funding from Congress that’s desperately needed to modernize the air traffic control system," Garrow said.

Arjun Garg, a partner at the Hogan Lovells law firm and former FAA chief counsel, said the agency's technology is typically complicated and often outdated as a result of funding and implementation cycles in government

"The lack of stable consistent funding when you’re on the budget appropriations cycle of the federal government, it significantly hampers the ability to conduct that kind of upgrade," he said. "The FAA has an added hamper” because its system has to run all day every day reliably, and you need to be able to do those upgrades while it’s still running.

With the upcoming FAA reauthorization, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said in a news briefing Wednesday, the administration welcomes "the attention from Congress" on how to help the agency address any problems with NOTAM.

Maria Cantwell, chairwoman of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, said Wednesday that the committee "will be looking into what caused this outage and how redundancy plays a role in preventing future outages."

Story continues below.

What travelers need to know

Though the delays and cancellations that resulted from the outage are obviously frustrating for flyers, experts say, the FAA prioritizes safety above all, and grounding flights was the right move.

"I suspect they've got a pretty good idea of what happened," Dombroff said. "If they didn't know what happened, I've got a feeling the system would not be in the process of returning to normal."

Learn from my mistakes:My flight was canceled but I got most of my costs covered (after 3 months)

He emphasized that travelers should feel safe getting on planes today, even if those planes are delayed.

"The FAA is first in line to want to figure out what happened and ensure it doesn't happen again," he said. "We should revel in the quality and safety of the system we have and understand it isn't always going to work the way we want it to."

Many airlines have issued waivers to allow passengers whose flights were affected to adjust their travel plans without paying fare differences or change fees.

Contributing: Wyatte Grantham-Philips, USA TODAY; The Associated Press

Few delays, cancellations Thursday: Air travel recovers from FAA ...

Dee-Ann Durbin

Associated Press

Air travel in the U.S. is looking fairly normal Thursday after thousands of travelers were stranded at U.S. airports the day before due to an hours-long computer outage at the Federal Aviation Administration.

More than 10,000 flights were delayed or canceled over the course of the day Wednesday according to the tracking site FlightAware. Just after 9 a.m. Thursday, about 750 flights had been delayed and just 86 were canceled nationwide.

Even though the FAA was at fault for the outage, airlines could be on the hook for refunds and other compensation. Kurt Ebenhoch, a consumer travel advocate and former airline executive, said passengers are entitled to a full refund if an airline cancels a flight for any reason.

Staying calm and knowing your rights can go a long way if your flight plans are disrupted, experts say. Here's some of their advice for dealing with a flight delay or cancellation.

FAA computer outage:10,000+ US flights delayed, canceled: 'I'm frustrated, but I smell like passion fruit'

Experts weigh in: Could old tech be responsible for FAA outage that caused thousands of delays?

My flight was canceled. Now what?

If you still want to get to your destination, most airlines will rebook you for free on the next available flight as long as it has seats, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation.

Major airlines including Delta, American, Southwest and United were waiving change fees for Wednesday flights and, in some cases, Thursday flights to make it easier for passengers to change their travel plans.

Airline waivers:What carriers are offering travelers affected by the FAA outage

If you want to cancel the trip, you are entitled to a full refund, even if you bought non-refundable tickets. You're also entitled to a refund of any bag fees, seat upgrades or other extras.

Ebenhoch stressed that travelers are eligible for a refund, not just vouchers for future travel. If you do take a voucher, make sure you inquire about blackout dates and other restrictions on its use.

My flight was delayed. Does the airline have to provide me with compensation?

No. There are no federal laws requiring airlines to provide passengers with meal vouchers or other compensation when their flights are delayed. But each airline has its own policy, so if you are experiencing a long delay, you should ask if you can get a meal voucher or a hotel room. In some cases airlines might offer you a discounted hotel rate.

Flight delayed or canceled?:What you need to know and what airlines owe travelers.

My flight was delayed for so long that I no longer want to take the trip. Can I get a refund?

Maybe. The U.S. Department of Transportation says travelers are entitled to a refund if there is a "significant delay." It does not define "significant," so airlines have their own standards. Delta will refund a flight that was delayed by more than two hours, for example, while American will refund a flight that was delayed by more than four hours.

Can I ask to be rebooked on another airline's flight?

Yes. Airlines aren't required to put you on another airline's flight, but they can and sometimes do, according to the DOT.

Jeff Klee, CEO of CheapAir.com, recommends researching alternate flights while you're waiting to talk to an agent. Agents are typically under a lot of pressure when a flight is canceled, so giving them some options helps.

Ebenhoch also suggests looking for alternative airports that are close to your original destination.

I'm facing a long wait to rebook my flight. What should I do?

If someone in your traveling party is at a higher level in a frequent flier program, use the number reserved for that level to call the airline, Ebenhoch said. You can also try calling an international help desk for the airline, since those agents have the ability to make changes.

Contributing: Zach Wichter, USA TODAY

Flight cancellations: Why Southwest Airlines is melting down | CNN ...

New York CNN —

A punishing winter storm that dumped multiple feet of snow across much of America led to widespread flight cancellations over the Christmas holiday. By Monday, air travel was more or less back to normal – unless you booked your holiday travel with Southwest Airlines.

More than 90% of Wednesday’s US flight cancellations were Southwest flights, according to flight tracking website FlightAware. Southwest canceled more than 2,500 flights. The next highest: SkyWest, with 77.

Southwest warned that it would continue canceling flights until it could get its operations back on track. The company’s CEO said this has been the biggest disruption he’s seen in his career. The Biden administration is investigating.

What gives? Southwest had a combination of bad luck and bad planning.

The storm hit Chicago and Denver hard, where Southwest has two of its biggest hubs – Chicago Midway airport and Denver International airport.

More bad luck: The storm hit just as the so-called tripledemic surged across America, leaving people and their families sick with Covid, the flu and RSV. Although Southwest says it was fully staffed for the holiday weekend, illness makes adjusting to increased system stress difficult. Many airlines still lack sufficient staff to recover when events like bad weather cause delays or flight crews max out the hours they’re allowed to work under federal safety regulations.

Underinvestment

But Southwest (LUV) also hurt itself with an aggressive schedule and by underinvesting in its operations.

Southwest’s schedule includes shorter flights with tighter turnaround times, which are causing some of the problems, Kathleen Bangs, a FlightAware spokesperson, told CNN.

“Those turnaround times bog things down,” Bangs said.

Stranded customers have been unable to get through to Southwest’s customer service lines to rebook flights or find lost baggage.

Employees also said they have not been able to communicate with the airline, the president of the union that represents Southwest’s flight attendants told CNN Monday.

“The phone system the company uses is just not working,” Lyn Montgomery, President of TWU Local 556, told CNN’s Pamela Brown. “They’re just not manned with enough manpower in order to give the scheduling changes to flight attendants, and that’s created a ripple effect that is creating chaos throughout the nation.”

On a call with employees Monday, Southwest Chief Operating Officer Andrew Watterson explained that the company’s outdated scheduling software quickly became the main culprit of the cancellations once the storm cleared, according to a transcript of the call that was obtained by CNN from an aviation source.

The extreme cold, ice and snow grounded planes and left some crew members stranded, so Southwest’s crew schedulers worked furiously to put a new schedule together, matching available crew with aircraft that were ready to fly. But the Federal Aviation Administration strictly regulates when flight crews can work, complicating Southwest’s scheduling efforts.

“The process of matching up those crew members with the aircraft could not be handled by our technology,” Watterson said.

Southwest ended up with planes that were ready to take off with available crew, but the company’s scheduling software wasn’t able to match them quickly and accurately, Watterson added.

“As a result, we had to ask our crew schedulers to do this manually, and it’s extraordinarily difficult,” he said. “That is a tedious, long process.”

Watterson noted that manual scheduling left Southwest building an incredibly delicate house of cards that could quickly tumble when the company encountered a problem.

“They would make great progress, and then some other disruption would happen, and it would unravel their work,” Watterson said. “So, we spent multiple days where we kind of got close to finishing the problem, and then it had to be reset.”

In reducing the company’s flights by two thirds, Southwest should have “more than ample crew resources to handle that amount of activity,” Watterson said.

A lack of tools

The problems Southwest faces have been brewing for a long time, said Captain Casey Murray, the president of the Southwest Airlines Pilots Association.

“We’ve been having these issues for the past 20 months,” he told CNN. “We’ve seen these sorts of meltdowns occur on a much more regular basis and it really just has to do with outdated processes and outdated IT.”

He said the airline’s operations haven’t changed much since the 1990s.

“It’s phones, it’s computers, it’s processing power, it’s the programs used to connect us to airplanes – that’s where the problem lies, and it’s systemic throughout the whole airline,” he said.

Southwest CEO Bob Jordan, in a message to employees obtained by CNN, acknowledged many of Murray’s concerns, and promised the company will invest in better systems.

“Part of what we’re suffering is a lack of tools,” Jordan told employees. “We’ve talked an awful lot about modernizing the operation, and the need to do that.”

He said the airline is “committed to and invested in” improving its systems, but “we need to be able to produce solutions faster.”

President Joe Biden on Tuesday urged consumers to check if they’re eligible for compensation as cascading airline delays have disrupted holiday travel across the country.

“Our Administration is working to ensure airlines are held accountable,” Biden tweeted.

The US Department of Transportation said it is investigating.

“USDOT is concerned by Southwest’s unacceptable rate of cancellations and delays & reports of lack of prompt customer service,” the agency tweeted. “The Department will examine whether cancellations were controllable and if Southwest is complying with its customer service plan.”

To recover, Jordan told the Wall Street Journal the company plans to operate just over a third of its schedule in upcoming days to give itself the ability for crews to get into the right positions.

Not Southwest’s first rodeo

If this is all ringing a bell, that’s because this isn’t the first time Southwest’s service melted down in epic fashion. In October 2021, Southwest canceled more than 2,000 flights over a four-day period, costing the airline $75 million.

Southwest blamed that service meltdown on a combination of bad weather in Florida, a brief problem with air traffic control in the area and a lack of available staff to adjust to those problems. It has admitted it was having service problems caused by short staffing even before the thousands of canceled flights stranded hundreds of thousands of passengers.

Similar to this month’s service mayhem, Southwest fared far worse than its competitors last October. While Southwest canceled hundreds of flights in the days following the peak of October’s disruption, competitors quickly returned to normal service.

Later that month, on a call with Wall Street analysts, then-CEO Gary Kelly said the company had made adjustments to prevent a similar meltdown in the future.

“We have reined in our capacity plans to adjust to the current staffing environment, and our ontime performance has improved, accordingly,” said Kelly on October 21. “We are aggressively hiring to a goal of approximately 5,000 new employees by the end of this year, and we are currently more than halfway toward that goal.”

And, just like the latest disruption, the Southwest Airlines Pilots Association claimed the cancellations were due to “management’s poor planning.”

– CNN’s Ross Levitt contributed to this report

Daily Briefing: FAA, Biden documents, California weather, George ...

Thousands of fights were canceled and delayed, causing transportation mayhem across the United States. More classified documents have been found by aides to President Joe Biden at a new location, according to reports.

👋 It's Jane Onyanga-Omara and Steve Coogan, guest-starring as the authors of today's Daily Briefing. Looking for a fun and spooky way to celebrate Friday the 13th tomorrow? Try this movie marathon.

Now, here's Thursday's news.

FAA computer glitch causes air chaos

Thousands of flights across the U.S. were canceled or delayed Wednesday after a system at the Federal Aviation Administration that offers safety information to pilots failed. The system broke down late Tuesday and was not fixed until midmorning Wednesday. The FAA took the rare step of preventing any planes from taking off for a time, and the chaos led to more than 1,300 flight cancellations and 9,000 delays by early evening on the East Coast, according to flight-tracking website FlightAware. The FAA said preliminary indications “traced the outage to a damaged database file." After the failures were fixed, Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg warned that travelers could continue to see some effects "rippling through the system." Read more

Experts say old tech could be responsible for FAA outage that caused thousands of delays.

for FAA outage that caused thousands of delays. See photos: Flights delayed nationwide after FAA orders temporary halt to all domestic flights.

Biden aides find second batch of classified documents at separate location, reports say

A second set of classified documents was found by aides to President Joe Biden at a location separate from Biden's former Washington office where records were first discovered in November, according to media reports Wednesday. The disclosure, first reported by NBC News, came a day after Biden told reporters he was "surprised" by the discovery of the first batch of documents at an office he used after serving as vice president and before he launched the 2020 White House campaign. The White House confirmed the Nov. 2 discovery in a statement Monday, saying officials were cooperating with a Justice Department review that appeared to be nearing an end. It was not immediately clear how many documents were found at the second location or their classification level. Read more

Questions about Joe Biden documents escalate as initial Justice review nears end.

escalate as initial Justice review nears end. Biden classified documents: What we know and how discovery compares to Trump.

More news to know now

🌤 What's the weather up to in your neck of the woods? Check your local forecast here.

More weather worry in California: Relentless rain keeps battering state

While Southern California's famous sunshine finally returned Wednesday, the San Francisco Bay Area and the Monterey peninsula were not as fortunate as rain continued to fall. "The atmospheric river has refocused over northern and central California," the National Weather Service said. "Heavy rain on saturated soils and gusty winds may lead to flooding." The service warned of hazardous weather conditions for those areas. A high-surf advisory will go into effect Thursday. At least 18 people have died in the wave of the storms. Damage could exceed $1 billion, experts say. Read more

Will the extreme weather let up? What's next: The previous storm that walloped California was making its way east, and severe thunderstorms were possible in the Southeast on Thursday, forecasters said. Looking further ahead, four more atmospheric rivers are heading toward California in the next nine to 10 days, Gov. Gavin Newsom warned. Read more

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Despite party pressure, Santos won't resign, McCarthy won't remove him

As pressure mounts for freshman Republican Rep. George Santos to resign, House speaker Kevin McCarthy said it's up to the New Yorkers who put him in office to decide. "The voters elected him to serve," McCarthy told reporters at the Capitol Wednesday. His comments come hours after Nassau County Republicans called on Santos to resign for telling a litany of lies during his campaign that are "too numerous to count." "We do not consider him one of our congresspeople," Nassau committee GOP Chairman Joseph Cairo said. A defiant Santos said that he "will not" resign. Read more

Points of contention: Kevin McCarthy's secret deal, George Santos, Biden and Trump docs, abortion prompt a fiery debate in the new Congress

Kevin McCarthy's secret deal, George Santos, Biden and Trump docs, abortion prompt a fiery debate in the new Congress How the GOP got here: The rise of ultra conservatives from Barry Goldwater to Donald Trump

Jeff Beck, influential guitar god of The Yardbirds, dies at 78

Jeff Beck, legendary guitarist from English rock band The Yardbirds and The Jeff Beck Group, has died. He was 78. "On behalf of his family, it is with deep and profound sadness that we share the news of Jeff Beck’s passing," read a statement on his website, which noted that the musician died Tuesday "after suddenly contracting bacterial meningitis." Beck was among the rock-guitarist pantheon from the late 1960s that included Eric Clapton, Jimmy Page and Jimi Hendrix. In his lengthy career, Beck won eight Grammy Awards and was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame twice. Read more

📷 Photo of the day: Remembering Jeff Beck. The legendary guitarist's life and career in photos 📷

The world is mourning the loss of a rock god after Jeff Beck, the legendary guitarist died at 78.

Tributes poured in from Beck's admirers around the world, among them English singer-songwriter Paul Young, who affectionately called Beck "the guitarist's guitarist" in a tweet. "Devastated to hear of the sudden and tragic death of legendary guitarist Jeff Beck," Young wrote. "He was loved by everyone in the know."

See more photos of Jeff Beck during his career and art inspired by him.

One more thing

Contributing: The Associated Press

What is NOTAM? FAA system outage caused ground stop, flight delays

An overnight computer outage at the Federal Aviation Administration lead to widespread flight delays and disruptions Wednesday morning. The FAA said it was working to restore operations in the hours following.

The FAA said the outage was in the Notice to Air Missions system, which provides pilots and flight crews with essential safety information.

The FAA ordered all U.S. airlines to pause domestic departures shortly before 7:20 a.m. ET, Wednesday.

As of 8:50 a.m. ET, the "ground stop" had been lifted and normal air traffic was "resuming gradually across the United States," according to an agency update.

More than 7,800 flights within, into, or out of the United States were delayed, according to the tracking website FlightAware, and over 1,100 flights were canceled as of 1:30 p.m. ET.

"This is rare... The fact that they had to initiate a ground stop across the United States, that hasn't happened since September 11th, 2001. So you get an idea of the magnitude of this," Mike McCormick, assistant professor in applied aviation sciences at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, told reporters in a press call Wednesday morning.

While the exact cause of the outage remains unknown, White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said there was "no evidence of a cyberattack" as of Wednesday morning. President Joe Biden directed the Department of Transportation to investigate.

Here's what you need to know about NOTAMs.

Live updates:Thousands of flights delayed across US following FAA computer outage

What is a NOTAM?

A Notice to Air Missions is a notice that provides pilots and other flight personnel with real-time, safety information concerning flight operations, conditions and airports.

NOTAMs alert of potential hazards and conditions that can impact flights – from runway construction or possible icing to a change in an aeronautical facility or flight service. Pilots are required to consult NOTAMs before starting every flight.

The FAA notes that a NOTAM “states the abnormal status of a component of the National Airspace System (NAS) – not the normal status.” The federal agency adds that NOTAMs are “not known far enough in advance to be publicized by other means.”

The NOTAM system was telephone-based in the past, with pilots calling flight service stations for the information, but it has now moved online.

McCormick told reporters that the NOTAM system has been "incrementally upgraded over the past several years" to transition from a manual system to an internet-based system. "There are redundancies built into it," he said.

When did the NOTAM system outage occur?

The NOTAM system failed at 8:28 p.m. ET on Tuesday, according to FAA advisories.

In efforts to keep departures flying overnight, the FAA used a telephone hotline. But the telephone system was overwhelmed as daytime traffic increased.

The stop order on Wednesday morning impacted nearly all commercial and shipping flights. Some medical flights were able to get clearance.

The outage did not impact military flights. Ann Stefanek, Air Force spokesperson, confirmed to the Associated Press that the military has its own NOTAMs system that is separate from the FAA's system.

USA TODAY analysis:Here are the 10 airports with the most flight cancellations around the holidays

Are NOTAM system outages common?

An outage of its kind appears to be very rare.

McCormick told reporters on Wednesday that the there hasn't been a nationwide ground stop since 9/11. Other experts underlined the significance of the event.

“Periodically there have been local issues here or there, but this is pretty significant historically,” Tim Campbell, a consultant in Minneapolis and former senior vice president of air operations at American Airlines, told The Associated Press.

Campbell added that there has been concern about the FAA’s technology for a long time, and not just the NOTAM system.

“So much of their systems are old mainframe systems that are generally reliable but they are out of date,” he said.

What's everyone talking about? Sign up for our trending newsletter to get the latest news of the day

Contributing: Zach Wichter, USA TODAY. The Associated Press.

Government shutdown: Flight delays in at 4 airports due to 'staffing'

At least four major airports suffered flight delays Friday because of an increase in air traffic control employees calling in sick amid the government shutdown, which ended Friday afternoon after 35 days thanks to a short-term deal.

The Federal Aviation Administration’s flight delay map had showed significant departure delays at Philadelphia and Newark, New Jersey, Friday morning. Lesser delays also showed at New York LaGuardia earlier in the day. By early afternoon, “staffing” delays had dissipated at Philadelphia but had popped up in Atlanta, the world’s busiest airport.

The FAA listed “staffing” as the cause and had issued a “traffic management” initiative to slow down the rates of departures. Typically, that “metering” effort helps controllers space out planes to keep the pace of either arrivals or departures from exceeding their capacity.

The FAA confirmed it had initiated procedures to adjust flights because of an increase in sick calls by controllers.

“We have experienced a slight increase in sick leave at two facilities,” a spokesman for the FAA said in a statement to USA TODAY. “We’ve mitigated the impact by augmenting staffing, rerouting traffic, and increasing spacing between aircraft when needed. The results have been minimal impacts to efficiency while maintaining consistent levels of safety in the national airspace system. The public can monitor air traffic at fly.faa.gov and they should check with airline carriers for more information.”

More:Amid shutdown, is it safe to fly? Airlines say yes, but worry about increasing delays

More:Shutdown Day 35: Senate leaders negotiate as staffing shortages cause delays at major airports

More:10 percent of TSA workers call in sick as government shutdown drags on

At one point Friday morning, the FAA site had listed departure delays averaging more than an hour at both Newark and Philadelphia. The Philadelphia delays had dissipated later in the morning, according to the FAA site. Just before noon ET, LaGuardia remained a trouble spot, with delays on arriving flights averaging nearly 90 minutes. Atlanta's delays, which popped up after noon, were more than an hour. Delays persisted at Newark as of 12:55 p.m. ET, though the cause was no longer staffing but "wind," according to the FAA.

Flyers could face sporadic delays at those airports, and possibly others, throughout the day.

The delays were caused by an insufficient number of air traffic controllers in two regional facilities near Washington, D.C., and Jacksonville, Fla., according to the FAA’s Air Traffic Control System Command Center. Those facilities help coordinate the thousands of flights that fly through an area of the East Coast that stretches from Florida to Pennsylvania and New Jersey.

The news of staffing issues comes two days after leaders of the National Air Traffic Controllers Association, the union which represents the controllers, held a press conference on the steps of Capitol Hill arguing that the now-ended shutdown was harming the safety of air travel in the United States.

Air traffic controllers have been working without pay since Dec. 22. They have received paychecks during that time, but each check read $0.00, said Bill Striffler, the union’s representative at Newark airport.

“We have a growing concern for the safety and security of our members, our airlines and the traveling public due to the government shutdown,” the union said in a statement issued prior to the end of the shutdown. “In our risk averse industry, we cannot even calculate the level of risk currently at play, nor predict the point at which the entire system will break.”

Press secretary Sarah Sanders said President Trump has been briefed on the airport delays.

“The President has been briefed and we are monitoring the ongoing delays at some airports. We are in regular contact with officials at the Department of Transportation and the FAA.”

The travel troubles come a day after a trio of airline CEOs sounded alarms that the shutdown had reached a tipping point. The CEOs of American, Southwest and JetBlue specifically warned about the potential for flights to be delayed because a shortage of air traffic controllers would require more spacing between flights.

One major airline, Air Canada, issued a rebooking waiver for customers headed to Newark and LaGuardia because of “Air Traffic Control restrictions.” So far, none of the biggest U.S. airlines were waiving fees, though they said they were monitoring the situation.

“We haven’t experienced significant impacts to our operation or schedule at this point, but continue to monitor and are working closely with the FAA," American Airlines spokesman Matt Miller said to USA TODAY before the shutdown-ending deal was announced. "Our goal is to minimize disruptions for our customers and our team members taking care of our customers. In this spirit, we urge that the federal government be re-opened before shutdown impacts begin to escalate.”

JetBlue Airways passengers traveling Friday may experience delays or longer-than-normal flight times due to air traffic control staffing shortages, spokesman Philip Stewart said. Customers should check their flight status at jetblue.com or on the airline's mobile app, he said.

Delta Air Lines said about 200 flights at LaGuardia and other airports in the Northeast were delayed Friday morning due to the FAA's ground delay program.

"Delta is working to reaccomodate customers to their destinations and encourages customers traveling on Friday to check delta.com or the Fly Delta App for their current flight status,'' spokesman Drake Castañeda said.

Labor officials also began to weigh in Friday on the staffing-related issues with controllers, saying that they had already sounded the alarm for potential harm to aviation from the shutdown.

"This is exactly what AFA and other aviation unions have been warning would happen,” Sara Nelson, president of Association of Flight Attendants that represents about 50,000 attendants at numerous airlines, said in a statement.

“The aviation system depends on the safety professionals who make it run,” she added. “They have been doing unbelievably heroic work even as they are betrayed by the government that employs them. They are fatigued, worried, and distracted – but they won't risk our safety. So the planes will stay on the ground. This is anything but a sick out - it is only about our safety and the air traffic controllers' absolute commitment to it.”

Contributing: David Jackson and Dawn Gilbertson of USA TODAY and Christopher Maag of The Record of Bergen County, New Jersey.

Thursday flight cancellations top 2,400 nationwide, disrupting ...

CNN —

Snow, rain, ice, wind and frigid temperatures are disrupting air travel plans across the United States as well as bus and Amtrak passenger train service.

Airlines canceled more than 2,400 US flights by 9 p.m. ET Thursday and proactively canceled more than 2,200 flights for Friday, according to the flight tracking site FlightAware. Even for Saturday, more than 125 flights were already canceled.

Delays were even more extensive on Thursday: More than 9,300 as of 9 p.m. ET.

The impacts are being felt hardest in Chicago and Denver, where around a quarter of arrivals and departures – hundreds of flights at each airport – were canceled on Thursday, FlightAware data show.

At one point Thursday at Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport, delays averaging 159 minutes – almost three hours – were being caused by snow and ice, according to a notice from the Federal Aviation Administration.

Temperatures at the O’Hare dropped to 5 degrees Fahrenheit (-15 Celsius) around 6:45 p.m. local time. Light snow and fog/mist were reported by the National Weather Service.

The FAA said departing aircraft at Dallas Love, Dallas-Fort Worth, Denver and Minneapolis airports require a spraying of de-icing fluid for safe travel.

New York braces

In the busy New York City metro area, the FAA warned that Newark flights should expect delays because of visibility issues.

The region’s three large airports are all warning travelers that the incoming winter weather front may disrupt their travels.

“Flight activity at #LaGuardiaAirport may be disrupted by heavy rain and strong winds later today and Friday. Travelers, please confirm flight status with your airline before heading to the airport,” LaGuardia Airport posted on Twitter. John F. Kennedy and Newark Airport also posted similar notices.

Airlines offer no-fee flight changes

Many airlines have issued weather waivers allowing travelers to change their itineraries without penalty during a short window.

For those whose flights are still scheduled to fly, the Transportation Security Administration is recommending that passengers arrive at the airport earlier than usual.

John Busch, Reagan National Airport’s TSA federal security director, told reporters that all airports “expect to be busier this holiday season than we’ve been in several years coming out of the pandemic. We’ve already seen some of our busiest days, yesterday and today and we expect maybe Friday 30th ahead of the New Year’s holiday can be also a very busy day.”

But Busch added that TSA is “very well prepared to handle additional volume and throughput for our security checkpoints.”

Travelers adjusting their plans

Maria Ihekwaba, who was traveling from Chicago to Clear Lake, Iowa, with her granddaughter on Thursday morning, told CNN she was trying to depart as soon as possible.

“Especially when you’re traveling from Chicago, you never know what could happen in Chicago because it’s the Windy City,” Ihekwaba said.

Traveler Kari Lucas, from San Diego, told CNN she was visiting her sister and brother-in-law, but cut the trip short as she didn’t want to get caught in the impending weather.

“I was worried because San Diego, we don’t get these snowstorms,” she said. “So I don’t like it to be trapped in the airport for long periods of time.”

“It seemed like the best choice to make right now,” she said.

Bus service disrupted

It’s not just flights that are being affected by the bomb cyclone.

Greyhound issued a service alert on Thursday warning customers that those traveling in the Midwest over the next two days may have their trips delayed or canceled altogether.

Greyhound, the largest provider of intercity bus service, listed more than a dozen cities from West Virginia to Minnesota that are among those impacted. They include:

• Charleston, West Virginia

• Chicago

• Cleveland

• Dallas

• Danville, Illinois

• Davenport, Iowa

• Denver

• Detroit

• Indianapolis

• Kansas City

• Minneapolis

• St. Louis

• Wichita, Kansas

Greyhound said riders can call 1-833-233-8507 to reschedule.

Amtrak train service hit, too

Amtrak has also been forced to delay or cancel passenger service for some lines in the Midwest and Northeast.

Click here for disruptions the rail service posted as of 5 p.m. Thursday.

In its notice, Amtrak said that “customers with reservations on trains that are being modified will typically be accommodated on trains with similar departure times or another day.

“Amtrak will waive additional charges for customers looking to change their reservation during the modified schedule by calling our reservation center at 1-800-USA-RAIL.”

Impact on Christmas deliveries

FedEx says it is watching the winter weather and has “contingency plans in place to help keep our team members safe and lessen any impact” on Christmas deliveries.

“In anticipation of severe weather, we have been repositioning assets so we can provide service where and when it is safe to do so,” FedEx told CNN in a statement.

Greg Wallace Paul P. Murphy Carol Alvarado

Republicans blame Biden administration for airline delays, will ...

WASHINGTON– Congress plans to investigate the Federal Aviation Administration's computer outage that sparked outrage from Republican lawmakers who blamed the Biden administration for the more than 7,300 cancelled flights Wednesday.

Sen. Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., who chairs the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee which oversees the aviation industry, said the her panel plans to examine how the computer glitch happened as part of Congress' planned review and reauthorization this year of the nation's aviation system.

"As the Committee prepares for FAA reauthorization legislation, we will be looking into what caused this outage and how redundancy plays a role in preventing future outages," she said. "The public needs a resilient air transportation system.”

The FAA reauthorization legislation, which takes place every five years, extends funding for the federal agency and addresses safety standards, the development of airport capital projects and the certification process for aviation manufacturers.

White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said Wednesday the FFA is "working aggressively" to identify the cause of the outage.

"We welcome the attention from Congress to ensure the FAA has what it needs to address these issues," she said.

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Live updates: Thousands of flights delayed, canceled across US after FAA computer outage

Republicans on the other side of the Capitol called for reforms to be enacted before reauthorizing the FAA legislation later this year. GOP members put the blame on the Biden administration and Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg for the outage.

"Don’t remember seeing this many flight delays during the Trump Administration," Ohio Republican Rep. Jim Jordan tweeted.

Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman Sam Graves, R-Mo., said the outage highlights a "huge vulnerability" in the air transportation system.

"Just as Southwest’s widespread disruption just a few weeks ago was inexcusable, so too is the DOT’s and FAA’s failure to properly maintain and operate the air traffic control system," he said.

Graves said he will be leading an oversight letter with other members of Congress to ensure lawmakers learn what went wrong, who is responsible and how a similar outage will be prevented in the future.

“I have many questions about what transpired today and I expect the FAA to provide a full briefing to members of Congress as soon as they learn more," Graves said.

More:Flight delayed or canceled? What you need to know and what airlines owe travelers.

What happened?:Experts say old tech could be responsible for FAA outage that caused thousands of delays

Republican Senator Ted Cruz of Texas, who serves on the Senate transportation committee, called the outage "completely unacceptable and just the latest example of dysfunction within the Department of Transportation."

"The administration needs to explain to Congress what happened, and Congress should enact reforms in this year's FAA reauthorization legislation," Cruz tweeted.

Rep. Andy Biggs, R-Ariz., attacked Buttigieg on Fox News Wednesday saying he was not surprised the transportation secretary does not know what caused the outage.

"What's chilling about this today is the fact that this is happening, it's been going on, we've known about it apparently overnight and he (Buttigieg) has no idea what happened or how they're going to fix it and how long it's going to last," Biggs said. "That is an enormous impact on our economy and travelers today."

What is the NOTAM system? The FAA outage causing flight delays across the US, explained.

Rep. Dan Bishop, R-N.C., was in agreement.

"Secretary Buttigieg has been focused more on 'racist roads' than on making sure our transportation is reliable. Which is, you know, his job. He has failed every major test as Transportation Secretary," he tweeted.

Illinois Sen. Tammy Duckworth, who sits on the committee said she was "troubled" by the situation.

“And while I appreciate that the FAA worked quickly to try to minimize the disruption to commercial air travel and get planes back in the air, we need to understand what happened today so we can prevent it from ever happening again," the Illinois Democrat said. "The flying public deserves better.”

The top Democrat on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, Washington Rep. Rick Larsen, said he was in close communication with the administration.

"I spoke with Secretary Buttigieg about this development and will continue to monitor this disruption to our air travel system until it is resolved," Larsen said in a statement Wednesday.

Republican Rep. Garret Graves of Louisiana, who serves on the U.S. House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, said lawmakers will pursue accountability and reforms that will help passengers.

"Air travel logistics are hard enough– we do not need our government making it worse," he tweeted. "The past year has made clear that significant improvements across the aviation system are needed."

Flight delays erupt as controllers start furloughs

Bart Jansen, @ganjansen, USA TODAY

New York-area airports were the hardest hit on Monday

FAA also reported %27staffing challenges%27 at Los Angeles%2C Fort Worth and Jacksonville%2C Fla.%2C

Airlines%2C pilots are suing to stop the furloughs of air-traffic controllers

Flight delays made for tough travel for thousands of fliers Monday, and passengers can expect more of the same in the days ahead.

The Obama administration says the only way the Federal Aviation Administration can handle automatic federal spending cuts between now and Oct. 1 is by furloughing air-traffic controllers — whose absence from the job was responsible for many of the delays.

"Furloughs cannot be avoided," White House spokesman Jay Carney said.

Hardest hit by furloughs Monday were New York-area airports, where the FAA said Newark "traffic management" delays topped an hour. LaGuardia Airport had delays nearly two hours because of wind and "volume."

Los Angeles had arrival delays late in the day approaching two hours because of staffing, according to the FAA. Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport had furlough delays of 90 minutes or more at midday. Smaller delays persisted at Charlotte-Douglas International Airport, and came and went at Washington's Dulles and National airports.

US Airways reported 60- to 90-minute delays in flights from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport to New York blamed on controller staffing, according to spokesman Todd Lehmacher.

Kenneth Gross, a Washington attorney, said his 9 a.m. US Airways flight from LaGuardia to National arrived more than an hour late for passengers to board. After passengers got on, the plane sat on the ground for an hour. Gross got to Washington after noon — for a flight that takes 37 minutes in the air.

"It was ridiculous," Gross said. "The weather was beautiful. There were clear skies. There was no other reason than furloughs and sequestration."

FlightAware.com, which tracks delays and cancellations, found the biggest share of delays by 6:30 p.m. LaGuardia had 39% of departures delayed, out of 417 total flights. Newark and JFK International Airport each had 33% delayed, with 420 flights and 348 flights, respectively. In the Washington area, Dulles had 26% delayed, with 229 flights, and National had 24% delayed, out of 354 flights.

For comparison, a week earlier only 7% of LaGuardia's flights and 8% of National's flights were delayed.

The FAA also reported "staffing challenges" at Fort Worth and Jacksonville, Fla., in addition to New York and Los Angeles.

Other problems also brought delays. Runway maintenance at New York's JFK International Airport that brought delays of two hours and 45 minutes.

In stormy Florida, Orlando had 27 arrivals and 18 departures delayed at least an hour, but spokeswoman Carolyn Fennell said it wasn't clear if the blame was on weather, mechanical problems or staffing. Miami had 55 arrivals and 44 departures delayed for a variety of reasons, spokesman Greg Chin said.

Monday's problems followed three-hour delays Sunday for some flights in Los Angeles, according to FAA spokesman Ian Gregor. Marshall Lowe, an airport spokesman, said there were 72 delays of an hour or more.

The furloughs are at the heart of the political dispute about reducing federal spending. The FAA ordered the furloughs worth $200 million as part of $637 million the agency must cut by Sept. 30 because of government-wide spending reductions.

Congressional Republicans argue that FAA and the Obama administration could avoid furloughs. The head of the transportation committee, Rep. Bill Shuster, R-Pa., says the administration is trying to score political points rather than "find real savings in a bloated federal bureaucracy."

The trade group Airlines for America, the union Air Line Pilots Association and the Regional Airline Association asked a federal court Friday to stop the furloughs. But the U.S. Court of Appeals for District of Columbia Circuit hasn't scheduled a hearing and the next documents aren't due until May 22.

Contributing: Ben Mutzabaugh, Larry Copeland, Nancy Trejos and Steve Berkowitz.


Mega Millions lottery jackpot climbs to nearly $1 billion; no winner in ...

There have been 23 consecutive drawings with no Mega Millions jackpot winner.

The jackpot now stands at an estimated $940 million.

The next drawing is set for Friday, Jan. 6.

Twenty-three consecutive drawings later with no grand prize winner named, the Mega Millions jackpot is now flirting with nearly $1 billion, making it one of the largest jackpots in lottery history.

The jackpot increased to an estimated $940 million ($483.5 million in cash) after another drawing Tuesday resulted in plenty of losers but no grand prize winner, Mega Millions announced.

With no one claiming the cash, it now marks the sixth highest jackpot in lottery history.

Across the country, 68 tickets matched four white balls plus the Mega Ball to win the third-tier prize, Mega Millions said. Twelve of those tickets are worth $40,000 each because they also included the optional Megaplier. The other 56 third-tier winning tickets are worth $10,000 each.

Denmark did not have a single bank robbery last year. This could explain why.

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Winning numbers for Tuesday

The winning numbers in Tuesday's drawing were white balls 25, 29, 33, 41 and 44, plus the gold Mega Ball 18.

When is the next Mega Millions drawing?

The next drawing is scheduled for Friday at 11 p.m. EST.

Where does jackpot rank among largest Mega Millions prizes?

On only three previous occasions has the Mega Millions jackpot gone beyond $700 million, and all three times those drawings continued on past$1 billion. One was in January 2021, when the jackpot was eventually won in Michigan at $1.05 billion.

The game’s first billion-dollar jackpot came in October 2018, when a South Carolina winner took home a $1.537 billion prize. That remains the record Mega Millions jackpot, although a third billion-dollar run came close last summer when an Illinois ticket won $1.337 billion on July 29.

Here are the Top 10 jackpots ever since the Mega Millions began in 1996:

$1.537 billion, Oct. 23, 2018: Won in South Carolina. $1.337 billion: July 29, 2022: Won in Illinois. $1.05 billion, Jan. 22, 2021: Won in Michigan. $940 million, Jan. 6: Active. $656 million, March 30, 2012: Three winners in Illinois, Kansas, Maryland. $648 million, Dec. 17, 2013: Two winners in California, Georgia. $543 million, July 24, 2018: Won in California. $536 million, July 8, 20116: Won in Indiana. $533 million: March 30, 2018: Won in New Jersey. $522 million: June 7, 2019: Won in California.

Largest jackpots in lottery history

Including both Mega Millions and Powerball drawings, here are the top grand prizes in lottery history:

$2.04 billion, Powerball, Nov. 7, 2022: Won in California. $1.586 billion, Powerball, Jan. 13, 2016: Three winners in California, Florida, Tennessee. $1.537 billion, Mega Millions, Oct. 23, 2018: Won in South Carolina. $1.337 billion, Mega Millions, July 29, 2022: Won in Illinois. $1.05 billion, Mega Millions, Jan. 22, 2021: Won in Michigan. $940 million, Jan. 6: Active. $768.4 million, Powerball, March 27, 2019: Won in Wisconsin. $758.7 million, Powerball, Aug. 23, 2017: Won in Massachusetts. $730 million, Powerball, Jan. 20, 2021: Won in Maryland. $699.8 million, Powerball, Oct. 4, 2021: Won in California.

Natalie Neysa Alund covers trending news for USA TODAY. Reach her at nalund@usatoday.com and follow her on Twitter @nataliealund.

Mega Millions jackpot balloons over $1B after no one matches 6 ...

A giant Mega Millions lottery jackpot ballooned to $1.02 billion after no one matched all six numbers Tuesday night and won the top prize.

Tuesday’s winning numbers were 07-29-60-63-66, with a Mega Ball of 15. The new estimated jackpot will be the nation’s fourth-largest lottery prize.

The current Mega Millions jackpot has grown so large because no one has matched the game’s six selected numbers since April 15. That’s 29 consecutive drawings without a big winner.

“We look with anticipation on the growing jackpot,” says Ohio Lottery Director Pat McDonald, current Lead Director of the Mega Millions Consortium. “Seeing the jackpot build over a period of months and reaching the billion-dollar mark is truly breathtaking. We encourage customers to keep play in balance and enjoy the ride. Someone is going to win.”

According to Mega Millions, this is the third time in its 20-year history that the jackpot has surpassed the $1 billion mark. The odds of winning the jackpot are 1 in 302.5 million.

Mega Millions is played in 45 states as well as Washington, D.C., and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The game is coordinated by state lotteries.

The top jackpot of $1.586 billion came in a Powerball drawing on Jan. 13, 2016. That's followed by Mega Millions jackpots of $1.537 billion won Oct. 23, 2018, in South Carolina, and $1.050 billion won Jan. 22, 2021, in Michigan.

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'LITTLE EXTRA FUN':Raising Cane's CEO to buy 50K Mega Millions tickets, hopes to share prize with employees

So far, the biggest Mega Millions jackpots this year were was $426 million, won Jan. 28 in California; — followed by $128 million, March 8 won in New York March 8; and $110 million won, April 12, in Minnesota April 12.

Contributing: The Associated Press

Follow Mike Snider on Twitter @mikesnider

Keep quiet, hire a financial team: What to do if you win Mega Millions

What should you do with $1 billion?

The Mega Millions lottery jackpot ballooned to $1.1 billion after no one matched all six numbers Friday night and won the top prize. That's the fourth time in about as many years the top prize has- topped $1 billion. And if someone wins it tonight, it will be the third largest jackpot in the game’s history.

But be careful what you wish for. Claiming that much money likely also will draw taxes, grifters, and friends and family members, advisers say.

All that attention means the first and most important piece of financial advice likely is what you should not do if you hold the winning ticket.

“Don’t shout your win from the rooftop,” Rob Burnette, financial and investment adviser at Outlook Financial Center in Troy, Ohio, said. “If you’re lucky enough to win the lottery, keep it quiet. Get organized and make a plan. Consider staying anonymous, if it’s a possibility.”

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How much is the jackpot, what time is the Mega Millions drawing, and what are my odds of winning?

The $1.1 billion prize is for winners who choose the annuity option, paid annually over 30 years. Most winners opt for the cash option, which for the next drawing Tuesday at 11 p.m. ET is an estimated $576.8 million.

The single chance of matching all six numbers is roughly 1 in 303 million. Mega Millions tickets – which cost $2 each – are sold in 45 states plus the District of Columbia and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

What's the Mega Millions cut off time to buy tickets?

In many states, eligible tickets are sold until 15 minutes before the drawing takes place. The drawing is at 11 P.M. ET on Tuesday.

However, there are exceptions, so it's best to check the rules in your own state. For example, in Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, the cutoff is 9:50 p.m. ET on the day of the drawing.

Why shouldn’t you tell everyone?

Scammers.

“Some of those scammers have falsely identified themselves as being affiliated with Mega Millions,” Mega Millions said. “These scams all have one thing in common: They try to trick you into sending them money or personal information by claiming that you have won a large lottery prize.”

No representative of Mega Millions would ever call, text, or email anyone about winning a prize, Mega Millions said.

DON'T GET CONNED:Stay alert against financial scams

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Also remember, "no real lottery tells winners to put up their own money in order to collect a prize they have already won," it said.

Steve Azoury, owner of Azoury Financial in Troy, Michigan, said he has advised many lottery winners, including a $181 million winner "who said ‘If I didn’t know you before, I don’t want to know you now.’”

If you can’t tell everyone you won, what can, or should you do?

“Get a tax attorney and a tax accountant right off the bat and then a financial adviser,” said Azoury. “They’ll work hand in hand to figure out the plan.”

The plan will include which payout option to choose:

An annuity option makes an initial annual payment followed by 29 annual payments. Each payment is 5% larger than the previous one.

The cash option is a one-time, lump-sum payment equal to all the cash in the Mega Millions jackpot prize pool.

The plan also should include a “fall guy,” Azoury said. “That’s the person or adviser who keeps you from giving loans to anybody, who tells people all the money’s tied up in investments, not available. We have nothing available to help you out and we’re not interested in your project.”

REGULAR PAYOUTS:Are annuities safe in a recession? Sales are surging, here's what to know

SLIM ODDS:7 things more likely to happen than winning the Powerball or Mega Millions lottery

Should you take the lump sum or installment payments?

That decision depends on your goals, your age, and what lottery rules are for beneficiaries to continue receiving payments, or if you’d likely squander a lump sum.

Mark Steber, chief tax officer at Jackson Hewitt, recommends considering the following:

Size of the lottery winning: That can serve as a guide to determining taxes you may owe and the financial security you can derive from it. If the amount is on the smaller side, a lump sum may simply be easier.

Current and projected earnings: Consider your ability to earn money and tax rates over your lifetime.

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How much do you bring home?

That depends on how you decide to take your money and complex state laws.

If you win the Mega Millions lottery, you’ll likely be propelled into the highest federal tax bracket. Your state of residency and where you bought the winning ticket can greatly impact what you pay in state taxes.

For example, if you’re a California resident and purchase your ticket there, then you pay the 37% federal tax rate but are in luck because California doesn't tax lottery winnings, Steber said.

New York, though, has the highest tax rate on lottery winnings.

But, if you’re a California resident on vacation in Rhode Island and decide to buy a ticket there, you’ll have to include your lottery winnings on your federal and California tax returns and file a nonresident Rhode Island tax return for your jackpot. You should claim a tax credit for the Rhode Island taxes on your California return so you won't be double-taxed on the same income in two states, he said.

“This is where a tax professional really comes in handy,” Steber said. “State taxes can be very tricky.”

TAXING:Senate Dems say boosting taxes on higher income earners will extend Medicare solvency

A MILLION MISTAKE:Man claims $1 million Mega Millions prize from ticket he says was a 'mistake'

"How long does it take to get your money if you win the Mega Millions?"

Once you claim the prize, it shouldn’t take too long, Azoury said. “Maybe a couple of weeks,” he said.

Remember, most people won’t claim their winnings right away because they'll take time to set their plan. Claim periods vary by jurisdiction so people should check with the lottery in the state where the ticket was purchased to get the applicable claim period for that ticket.

Mega Millions claim periods range from 90 days to one year from the draw date, the lottery said.

Medora Lee is a money, markets, and personal finance reporter at USA TODAY. You can reach her at mjlee@usatoday.com and subscribe to our free Daily Money newsletter for personal finance tips and business news every Monday through Friday morning.

Associated Press contributing

When is next Mega Millions drawing? Jackpot reaches nearly $1 ...

After 23 consecutive drawings, there is still no grand prize winner for the Mega Millions, and its jackpot now reaches nearly $1 billion, making it one of the largest jackpots in lottery history.

The jackpot rose to an estimated $940 million ($483.5 million in cash) after another drawing Tuesday resulted in plenty of losers but no grand prize winner, Mega Millions announced. Since no one has claimed the jackpot, it is now the sixth highest in lottery history.

As the days tick until the next drawing, here is what you need to know about the Mega Millions jackpot.

Mega Millions lottery jackpot climbs to nearly $1 billion;no winner in Tuesday drawing

What the Mega Millions jackpot winner should do next: Stay quiet, hire financial team

What's everyone talking about? Sign up for our trending newsletter to get the latest news of the day

When is next Mega Millions drawing?

The next drawing is scheduled for 11 p.m. ET Friday, Jan. 6.

Winning numbers for Tuesday, Jan. 3 drawing

The winning numbers in Tuesday's drawing were white balls 25, 29, 33, 41 and 44, plus the gold Mega Ball 18.

How do I play Mega Millions?

A Mega Millions ticket costs $2 per play. You can add the Megaplier for $1, which will increase the amount of your potential prize up to five times the original prize (except for the jackpot).

Players pick six numbers:

Five numbers from 1 to 70 (white balls)

One number from 1 to 25 (gold Mega Ball)

You may also choose to have the lottery machine generate a random Quick Pick.

If all of your picks match the winning numbers from the drawing, you win.

Where can I play Mega Millions?

The Mega Millions can be played in 45 states plus the District of Columbia and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Mega Millions is not offered in the following states:

Alabama

Alaska

Hawaii

Nevada

Utah

Lottery tickets can be purchased at many locations such as grocery stores, gas stations and convenience stores. Some states allow Mega Millions tickets to be purchased online, but be aware of scam websites. For more details, check with your state lottery.

What are my odds of winning?

The odds of winning vary depending on how many of your numbers match the winning draws.

The odds of winning the jackpot are 302,575,350 to 1.

The odds to match all five white balls are 12,607,306 to 1.

One ticket in Illinois won the second-largest Mega Millions jackpot of ...

CNN —

The chase for the second-largest Mega Millions jackpot has ended – with a single ticket sold in the Chicago area for the whole $1.337 billion.

One ticket bought in Des Plaines hit the top prize in Friday night’s drawing, according to the Illinois Lottery, securing the third-largest jackpot of any US lottery game and ending a buildup that began when Mega Millions last drew a jackpot winner in mid-April.

The winning ticket was purchased at a Speedway gas station in Des Plaines, roughly a 20-mile drive northwest of downtown Chicago, the Illinois Lottery said Saturday.

“We have not heard from the winner yet. We don’t know whether … they even know that they won a prize. So I encourage everybody to check your ticket,” Illinois Lottery Director Harold Mays told reporters Saturday morning in Chicago.

The jackpot rose to $1.337 billion late Friday, up from an earlier estimate of $1.28 billion, lottery operators said.

If the holder chooses a lump-sum cash option, the ticket will yield a one-time payment of about $780 million. Otherwise, the nearly $1.34 billion prize will be spread over an initial payment and 29 annual payments.

Friday night’s winning numbers were 13, 36, 45, 57, 67 and a Mega Ball of 14.

The Speedway convenience store in Des Plaines will receive $500,000 for selling the winning ticket, Mays said.

The ticket holder has a year from the drawing to claim the prize, and can choose to withhold his or her name from the public, Mays said. In Illinois, winners of more than $250,000 can ask the lottery to keep their name and hometown confidential.

The largest ever Mega Millions jackpot of $1.537 billion was won by a single ticket sold in South Carolina in 2018. That’s the second-largest jackpot for any US lottery game, and it’s the world’s largest lottery prize won by just one ticket, according to Mega Millions.

The largest jackpot of any US lottery game was $1.586 billion – a Powerball prize from January 13, 2016, shared by winners in California, Florida and Tennessee.

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Other tickets win big prizes

Some other ticket holders also won some sizable prizes Friday.

Twenty-six tickets won a secondary prize of at least $1 million because they matched the first five numbers.

Six of the 26 tickets won $2 million because the buyers matched not only the first five numbers, but also paid an additional $1 to activate the game’s “multiplier,” which elevates non-jackpot prizes.

One of the 26 tickets, sold in California, did not have the multiplier but still won more than $4.2 million, according to the state’s lottery officials. That’s because all prizes in California must be based on sales and number of winners instead of being a fixed amount.

The 20 “Match 5” winners without the multiplier were sold in California; Florida (two); Georgia (two); Illinois; Kentucky; Louisiana; Michigan; Minnesota (two); North Carolina (two); New Hampshire (two); New York; Oklahoma; Pennsylvania; Texas (two); and Wisconsin.

The six $2 million tickets were sold in Arizona; Florida (three); Iowa and Pennsylvania, according to Mega Millions.

First MegaMillions jackpot win since April 15

The jackpot had been rising since mid-April, when the jackpot was hit on consecutive drawings on April 12 and April 15. Since then, no ticket in twice-weekly drawings matched all six numbers – which is tough. The odds of winning the jackpot are 1 in 302,575,350.

The Mega Millions website on Friday night became inaccessible for several minutes after the drawing. The lottery’s jackpots start at $20 million and grow based on game sales and interest rates, according to its website.

The next drawing will be Tuesday at 11 p.m. ET, at the $20 million starting point.

Mega Millions tickets are sold in 45 states, Washington, DC, and the US Virgin Islands, where drawings are on Tuesdays and Fridays at 11 p.m. ET. Tickets are sold online in Georgia, Illinois, Kentucky, Michigan, New Hampshire, North Carolina, North Dakota, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and DC, but the purchaser must be in that state.

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Keith Allen

Mega Millions Tuesday: Check winning lottery numbers

Update, 5:45 a.m.: No one picked all five numbers and the Megaball, so the Mega Millions jackpot of $830 million will continue to grow, but one ticket was sold in Ohio with all five numbers and the Megaplier, making that ticket worth $3 million, according to the Mega Millions website. Information on where that $3 million ticket was sold was not made available early Wednesday.

Update, 11:00 p.m.: Winning numbers for the Tuesday, July 26, drawing for a Mega Millions jackpot of $830 million are 7, 29, 60, 63, 66 and the gold Megaball is 15. The Megaplier is 3X. The cash option is $487.9 million.

Update:8 p.m. Lottery officials said in a statement that strong sales have pushed the estimated jackpot for tonight’s drawing to $830 million, with a cash value of $487.9 million.

Update, 6:30 p.m.: There is still time to buy a ticket for a chance to win the Mega Millions estimated jackpot of $810 million tonight.

The Mega Millions drawing Tuesday night is at 11 p.m. Ticket sales end at 10:45 p.m. in Kentucky and Indiana. Check back here for winning numbers after the drawing

In Kentucky, Ohio and Indiana, you can buy a Mega Millions ticket at gas stations, convenience stores and supermarkets until 10:45 p.m. on drawing night.

More:The first things to do if you win the lottery

In Kentucky, residents can also purchase tickets online at www.KYLottery.com.

In Ohio, residents can use Lottery Card available in Kroger, Buehler’s Fresh Foods and Giant Eagle stores. It allows Ohio consumers to enter draw games on their phones and get notified and paid electronically if they win. You can also buy tickets online at www.OhioLottery.com.

Got a Mega Millions prize notification?:Here's how to tell if it's a scam

Previous reporting: On Tuesday night, the current estimated $810 million jackpot will be up for grabs.

No one has won the Mega Millions grand prize since April 15, when a ticket in Tennessee won $20 million. The current $810 million jackpot is among the top three largest Mega Millions jackpots ever, according to the lottery's records.

The cash option is $470.1 million.

The most recent numbers from the Friday, July 22 drawing were 14, 40, 60, 64 and 66. The Mega Ball was 16, and the Megaplier was 3X.

There was a Match 5 $1 million winner in Virginia and Match 5 + Megaplier $3 million winners in Delaware, New Jersey and New York.

Whether you've played before, or if this is your first time trying your luck at the lottery, here's what you need to know ahead of the next drawing on Tuesday, July 26.

When are the Mega Millions drawings?

Mega Millions drawings are Tuesday and Friday at 11 p.m. Ticket sales end at 10:45 p.m. in Kentucky and Indiana.

How to play the Mega Millions

Tickets to Mega Millions cost $2 per play.

There are nine total ways to win a prize, from the jackpot to $2.

Pick five numbers from 1 to 70 and one Mega Ball number from 1 to 25.

Choose Easy Pick or Quick Pick to have the terminal randomly pick numbers for you. You win the jackpot by matching all six winning numbers in the drawing.

What's the Megaplier?

Most states offer the Megaplier feature, which increases non-jackpot prizes by two, three, four and five times.

It costs an additional $1 per play. Before each regular Mega Millions drawing, the Megaplier is drawn. From a pool of 15 balls, five are marked with "2X," three with "4X" and one with "5X."

Where to buy Mega Millions tickets

You can play Mega Millions in 47 localities: 45 states, plus the District of Columbia and the U.S. Virgin Islands. To find locations, search the Mega Millions website.

In Kentucky, Ohio and Indiana, you can buy a Mega Millions ticket at gas stations, convenience stores and supermarkets until 10:45 p.m. on drawing night.

In Kentucky, residents can also purchase tickets online at www.KYLottery.com.

In Ohio, residents can use Lottery Card available in Kroger, Buehler’s Fresh Foods and Giant Eagle stores. It allows Ohio consumers to enter draw games on their phones and get notified and paid electronically if they win. You can also buy tickets online at www.OhioLottery.com.

What was the largest Mega Millions jackpot ever?

In 2018, one winning ticket in South Carolina sold for a $1.537 billion grand prize, which was the world's largest lottery prize ever won on a single ticket.

In January 2021, a winning ticket sold in Michigan for $1.05 billion.

What happens if I win Mega Millions?

Mega Millions offers two options.

You can take annuity, in which you're paid out as one immediate payment followed by 29 annual payments. Each payment is 5% bigger than the previous.

There's also the cash option, a one-time, lump-sum payment equal to all the cash in the Mega Millions jackpot prize pool.

No one won the jackpot, but there was a $100,000 Powerball ticket sold in Delaware ahead of Saturday night's drawing

Results show the lucky winner or winners matched four numbers, plus the Powerball. With a power play of 2X, that makes for a $100,000 prize.

The winning numbers were 16, 54, 57, 62, 69, with a Powerball of 23.

Lottery fever is burning through the U.S. as people in 44 states, Washington, D.C., and the Virgin Islands scramble to buy tickets for the big bucks of a lifetime — now a $1.6 billion Mega Millions jackpot.

And there were no winners in Saturday's $476.7 million Powerball jackpot, ratcheting up the next prize Wednesday to $620 million, the lottery said.

But Mega Millions is eclipsing even that eye-opening number. Scores of potential One Percenters have been lining up at mini-marts and convenience stores in the past week to test their luck at guessing the winning six-number combination for the Mega Millions prize that seems to balloon after every "no winner" announcement.

Sales figures are hard to exaggerate. One local Nebraska newspaper reports that tickets sold at a rate of about 400 per minute on Friday. And in California, the lottery Thursday sold 5.7 million during the first half of the day.

If it seems that the lines have gotten longer with every drawing or that jackpots have exploded in growth lately – that's because they have.

With the next Mega Millions drawing two days away (Tuesday at 11 p.m. ET), here is a look behind the numbers.

Why have jackpots gotten so big?

It was all by design.

Lottery officials began tinkering with the odds in 2015 to lessen the chance of winning a jackpot, which in turn increased the opportunity for top prizes to reach exorbitant levels. As the money grows to those high figures, an increasing number of skeptics and first-time players are swayed to get in on the action.

Powerball was the first to try out the new formula when it changed the potential number of combinations three years ago. That change reduced the odds of winning from one in 175 to one in 292 million.

Mega Millions, which has been around since 1996, followed suit with a similar move in October 2017, worsening the odds from one in 259 million to one in 302 million. Mega Millions also doubled the entry ticket price from $1 to $2 and has seen three of its six-ever largest payouts since making the changes.

As the pot grows in size, people are more likely to buy a greater number of tickets. The process continues semi-weekly until one or more people guess the winning combination.

“I’m surprised that no one won the last round honestly," said Chris O’Byrne, a professor of management information at San Diego State University, referring to Friday's drawing.

"There were over 800 million ticket purchases to make the pot over $1.6 billion. It's pretty shocking that not one person had the exact combination.”

O'Byrne said he thinks Tuesday's drawing will almost certainly yield one or more winners.

How can I increase my odds of winning?

You could buy a ticket with each of the possible six-number combinations. That is, if you can afford it.

“If you wanted to guarantee yourself a win it would cost you around $600 million bucks,” O'Byrne said. “Even if you won you could have to split the winnings with someone else who guesses the right numbers. So, good luck doing that.”

Does that mean I shouldn't play?

It depends on what you're playing for, O'Byrne said. "You have a better shot of flipping a coin and having it land on heads 28 times in a row than to win."

But if you are getting something out of it – even if it's just a fantasy – that might be reason enough to join those long lines.

"I'm investing $2 in the ability to dream about how I would spend the money until Tuesday night. It's a cheap price to pay for that," O'Byrne said. "Also, the potential return on your $2 at this point is better than when the lottery started off at $40 million. So there's that."

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USA Today reporter Dalvin Brown contributed reporting. Contact Jessica Bies at (302) 324-2881 or jbies@delawareonline.com. Follow her on Twitter @jessicajbies.

Mega Millions at $1.6 billion: Lottery jackpots are bigger; here's why

Lottery fever is burning through the USA as people scramble to buy tickets for the big bucks of a lifetime – a record-breaking $1.6 billion Mega Millions jackpot.

Scores of potential one-percenters have been lining up at mini-marts and convenience stores in the past week to test their luck at guessing the winning six-number combination for the prize that seems to balloon after every "no winner" announcement.

Mega Millions now stands as the largest jackpot in U.S. history after moving past the $1.586 billion Powerball drawing on Jan. 13, 2016.

And sales figures are hard to exaggerate. One local Nebraska newspaper reports that tickets sold at a rate of about 400 a minute on Friday. In California, the lottery Thursday sold 5.7 million during the first half of the day. Mega Millions tickets can be purchased in 44 states, Washington, D.C., and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

There were also no winners in Saturday's $476.7 million Powerball jackpot, ratcheting up the next jackpot Wednesday to $620 million, the lottery said.

If it seems that the lines have gotten longer with every drawing or that jackpots have exploded in growth lately – that's because they have.

With the next Mega Millions drawing on Tuesday at 11 p.m. ET, here is a look behind the numbers.

Why have jackpots gotten so big?

It was all by design.

Lottery officials began tinkering with the odds in 2015 to lessen the chance of winning a jackpot, which in turn increased the opportunity for top prizes to reach exorbitant levels. As the money grows to those high figures, an increasing number of skeptics and first-time players are swayed to get in on the action.

Powerball was the first to try out the new formula when it changed the potential number of combinations three years ago. That change reduced the odds of winning from one in 175 million to one in 292 million.

Mega Millions, which has been around since 1996, followed suit with a similar move in October 2017, worsening the odds from one in 259 million to one in 302 million. Mega Millions also doubled the entry ticket price from $1 to $2 and has seen three of its six-ever largest payouts since making the changes.

As the pot grows, people are more likely to buy a greater number of tickets. The process happens semi-weekly until one or more people guess the winning combination.

“I’m surprised that no one won the last round, honestly," said Chris O’Byrne, a professor of management information at San Diego State University, referring to Friday's drawing.

"There were over 800 million ticket purchases. ... It's pretty shocking that not one person had the exact combination.”

O'Byrne said he believes Tuesday's drawing will almost certainly yield one or more winners.

How can I increase my odds of winning?

You could buy a ticket with each of the possible six-number combinations. That is, if you can afford it.

“If you wanted to guarantee yourself a win, it would cost you around 600 million bucks,” O'Byrne said. “Even if you won, you could have to split the winnings with someone else who guesses the right numbers. So, good luck doing that.”

Does that mean I shouldn't play?

It depends on what you're playing for, O'Byrne said. "You have a better shot of flipping a coin and having it land on heads 28 times in a row than to win."

But if you are getting something out of it – even if it's just a fantasy – that might be reason enough to join those long lines.

"I'm investing $2 in the ability to dream about how I would spend the money until Tuesday night. It's a cheap price to pay for that," O'Byrne said. "Also, the potential return on your $2 at this point is better than when the lottery started off at $40 million. So there's that."

Follow Dalvin Brown on Twitter: @Dalvin_Brown

Powerball: Jackpot grows to record $1.9 billion as no tickets ...

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Winning Mega Millions ticket sold in SC, two second prizes in NJ

Sorry, New Jersey. South Carolina Education Lottery is reporting that it sold the sole winning ticket for the $1.6 billion Mega Millions jackpot.

But those who didn't win the jackpot don't need to throw away their dreams just yet. The Powerball jackpot is $620 million and the drawing is Wednesday.

At least 36 people won the second-tier prize of $1 million, two of whom live in New Jersey. New Jersey Lottery has not announced yet where the tickets were sold but usually posts that information the afternoon after the drawing.

A number of other states sold second-tier prize tickets:

California: 8

Florida: 4, including one who chose the Megaplier, winning $3 million

New York: 4

Massachusetts: 2

Michigan: 2

North Carolina: 2

Virginia: 2

Arizona: 1

Washington D.C.: 1

Iowa: 1

Kentucky: 1

Missouri: 1

New Mexico: 1

Ohio: 1

Pennsylvania: 1

Texas: 1, who won $3 million by choosing the Megaplier

Wisconsin: 1

The Mega Millions jackpot had grown to record-breaking numbers after there had not been a winner since July. Scores of people flooded convenience stores and food stores to purchase tickets in hopes of being a winner.

One 7-Eleven employee in Woodbridge said he wanted someone to win so he could take it easy. He said since the jackpot had grown so much, it had been extremely busy.

Tuesday's winning numbers were: 5 - 28 - 62 - 65 - 70 and the Megaball was: 05.

WHAT ARE THE ODDS?:Here are the odds of actually winning that record-breaking $1.6B Mega Millions jackpot

REAL WINNER:Mega Millions jackpot has triggered a lottery frenzy, but NJ has the real winning ticket

PLAYING THE NUMBERS:Which Mega Millions numbers are likely to win? No way to know, statistics professor says


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