FAA says more than 16,000 flights canceled in US air disruption

The US federal aviation regulator said that the disruption to air travel due to a communications failure will lead to the cancellation of more than 16,000 flights by Saturday.

Federal Aviation Administration chief Bryan Bedford told a news conference that 12,000 flights were canceled on Friday and added: “We do anticipate somewhere between four and five thousand of the 41,000 flights that are scheduled today likely will cancel.”