Spy plane shuts down LAX
A US high-altitude U-2 spy plane (Getty). Getty
It has been revealed that a spy plane was responsible for shutting down Los Angeles airport for several hours last week.
At the time the plane was flying at around 18,000m, well above commercial flights landing and taking off from the airport.
But the Traffic Control Centre's computer registered the plane at the same altitude as those commercial flights, apparently overloading it as it tried to redirect the plane.
In a statement the Federal Aviation Authority said the air traffic centre "experienced technical issues" and stopped accepting flights into the airspace for about an hour.
According to NBC the plane was a U-2 "Dragon Lady" with a secret Defense Department flight plan.
Hundreds of flights were delayed and thousands of passengers were affected by the shutdown.
Author: Natasha Lee, Approving editor: Jack Hawke
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