U-2 spy plane flying at 60,000 triggered air traffic control shutdown

The software glitch that affected hundreds of US flights last week was prompted by a U-2 spy plane flying miles above the Los Angeles basin.

NBC News, citing anonymous sources, said the plane—older versions of which once flew spy missions over Russia five decades ago—was traveling at some 60,000 feet when it hit airspace near Los Angeles. Air traffic control computers at the LA Air Route Traffic Control Center in Palmdale, CA were trying to prevent the craft from crashing into planes that were flying miles below.