Friday, December 12, 2014

Flights disrupted after computer failure at UK control centre

Passengers are facing widespread flight disruption after a computer failure at the UK's air traffic control centre. Nats said it was in the process of returning to normal operations after a "technical problem" at its Swanwick control centre caused delays and grounded some flights. Problems were reported around the UK.
They included delays at Heathrow and Gatwick where departing flights were grounded for a time. Other UK airports reported knock-on effects. Reported problems around the country include:
  • Heathrow: Flights are "currently experiencing delays" and planes could be turned away
  • Gatwick: Flights are now departing but still subject to delays
  • Stansted: Flights still landing, no flights departing
  • Bristol: Limited departures reported
  • Luton: All flights experiencing delays
  • Edinburgh: Experiencing delays on all south-bound flights
  • Southampton: Experiencing ''problems''
  • Oxford: Experiencing "some delays", mainly to services arriving from overseas
  • Leeds Bradford: All flights out and most flights in suspended until 1900
  • Aberdeen: Reported an "impact" on operations
One source told the BBC the problem was caused by a computer glitch that co-ordinates the flights coming into London and puts the flights in sequence as they come into land or take off.
INC News, 12/12/2014 - via BBC

No comments:

VK