Aviation leaders call for more funds for the FAA after this week's system failure

Passengers check in at Southwest Airlines' self-serve kiosks at Chicago's Midway Airport as delays stemming from a computer outage at the Federal Aviation Administration brought flights to a standstill across the U.S. on Wednesday. (Charles Rex Arbogast/AP)

CHICAGO — In the wake of a crippling computer system failure this week, aviation industry leaders are calling on Congress and the White House to better support and fund the Federal Aviation Administration's efforts to modernize its outdated technology.

Aviation safety advocates and industry experts say there were warning signs long before Tuesday night's NOTAM system failure that led the FAA to impose about a 90-minute nationwide ground stop of all aircraft departures Wednesday morning, causing thousands of flight delays and cancellations that continued throughout the day.