Hartsfield-Jackson shut down by virtual threat, software bug

US Transportation Security Administration Director Kip Hawley said on Friday that a bomb scare that shut down security checkpoints at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport for two hours on April 19 was the result of a computer software problem.

The error, which halted departures for more than an hour and impacted about 120 flights, occurred when a screener spotted a suspicious device on an X-ray scan. Though the object was a virtual threat used by the TSA to test screener skills, the system did not report the test mode to the screener, who alerted authorities.

Hawley apologized for the delays but said he was pleased with the performance of the TSA screeners in Atlanta, according to the Associated Press. Delta Air Lines reported that the stoppage cost it more than $1.3 million