Technical Problems Ground Thousands of Travelers with Flight Delays at Some of the Busiest East Coast Airports (UPDATE: Issue Resolved, Flights Returning to Normal)

UPDATE 4:33 p.m. ET: WASHINGTON (AP) - The computer problem that snarled flights Saturday at northeastern U.S. airports has been resolved and flights are returning to normal, the Federal Aviation Administration said.

Original story below

WASHINGTON (AP) — Thousands of travelers along the East Coast faced flight delays Saturday due to technical issues at a Federal Aviation Administration center in Virginia, authorities said.

FAA spokeswoman Kathleen Bergen said the agency is investigating an automation problem at an air traffic center in Leesburg, Virginia. Flights into and out of New York- and Washington-area airports were being grounded with delays stretching to 2 hours, 45 minutes in some cases.

The FAA also said there were delays at New York's LaGuardia and John F. Kennedy International airports.

NEW YORK, NY - APRIL 28, 2015: A United Airlines passenger aircraft taxis at LaGuardia Airport in New York City, New York. (Photo by Robert Alexander/Getty Images)

Information posted on an FAA website indicated that part of the trouble was due a computer system known as ERAM that air traffic controllers used at 20 centers around the country that handle high-altitude air traffic. Installation of the system was completed earlier this year at the last of the centers, years behind schedule.

Flight delays at Baltimore-Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport are stretching beyond two hours in length, and arrivals and departures are very limited there. The conditions were similar at Washington's Reagan National Airport and Dulles International Airport.

"There are widespread impacts on airline flight operations throughout the regions," said Jonathan Dean, a spokesman for Baltimore's airport. Any takeoffs and landings at airports in the region are "extremely limited," Dean said.

The FAA said it is directing high-altitude flights around the affected airspace. The problem is not believed to be caused by any accident or hacking.

American Airlines said in a tweet that air traffic control issues are impacting all East Coast flights. The airline is urging passengers to plan accordingly.

@hholland33: @Dulles_Airport you are doing a great job updating the public on these crazy delays. Keep them coming. https://t.co/q0Y5B7TxbC

— Kayla N Murphy (@kbells130) August 15, 2015

Being let off the plane at @Dulles_Airport because of delays (3+ hours!) Am starving. Any terminal food suggestions?

— Julia Hatmaker (@JuliaHatmaker) August 15, 2015

Ways to get to know a new home airport - spend 6 hours in it. Hello Boston Logan! #Delays #TravelAdventures #NortheastNotions #LeaderShape

— Sonja Ardoin (@SonjaArdoin) August 15, 2015

Power is down in ATL airport, and they don't know how long the delay is going to be... So I could be stuck here all day

— Alicia Rosner (@RosnerAlicia) August 15, 2015