Computer gremlin grounds JetBlue nationwide
JetBlue computer issue kept flights grounded nationwide for about an hour
By Samantha Bomkamp, AP Transportation Writer
On Friday February 26, 2010, 5:42 pm EST

NEW YORK (AP) -- JetBlue fixed a technical issue with its central computer system that led to the temporary grounding of flights nationwide on Friday.

Flights were held from around 2:45 p.m. EST Friday until the issue was resolved just before 3:45 p.m. EST.

The carrier had already canceled most of its flights out of the New York area Friday due to a snowstorm.

Nearly all major carriers flying in and out of New York dropped at least some of their flights Friday, leading to about 2,000 cancellations.

Snow and ice at John F. Kennedy International, JetBlue's home base, kept incoming flights delayed for an average of one hour and 9 minutes, according to FAA spokesman Paul Takemoto.
At Newark Liberty International, incoming flights were delayed an average of one hour and 17 minutes.

High winds in Boston and Washington also slowed air traffic there, Takemoto said.