Matt Loney's Blog
What it says on the box
Thursday 25 September 2008, 5:05 PM
Gatwick air traffic control failure
Gatwick airport has suffered a brief loss of air traffic control systems this afternoon. I'm currently sat in Jersey airport, where staff announced there was a "failure of UK air traffic control". I suspect they might have been referring to Gatwick alone, and that the systems are now back up as we're hearing that flights are being allocated landing slots again.
We're being warned of two-hour delays. No word as to the cause. If it is computer related then it won't be the first time by a long stretch. I'm sure we'll be hearing more on this in the computing press.
Update (5.12pm): We've heard it's a data link problem affecting the South East, with the result that planes are taking off/landing every four or five minutes - way down on the usual 90 seconds.
We're being warned of two-hour delays. No word as to the cause. If it is computer related then it won't be the first time by a long stretch. I'm sure we'll be hearing more on this in the computing press.
Update (5.12pm): We've heard it's a data link problem affecting the South East, with the result that planes are taking off/landing every four or five minutes - way down on the usual 90 seconds.
