Colonial Pipeline returns to 'normal operations' after restart

Colonial Pipeline said Saturday that its pipeline system has returned to "normal operations" after a crippling cyberattack forced a six-day shutdown.

"Since this incident began, we have been clear that our focus was on the safe and efficient restoration of service to our pipeline system," the company said on Twitter. It had launched an initial restart on Wednesday following the shutdown triggered by the ransomware attack. Last week's complete shutdown of the crucial pipeline led to panic-buying and widespread gas station outages in the Southeast and prompted oil industry executives to warn that gas hoarding was worsening the supply crunch. The pipeline, responsible for carrying fuel from refineries along the Gulf Coast to New Jersey, provides nearly half the gasoline and diesel consumed by the East Coast, making it perhaps America's most important pipeline.