Air traffic disruption due to flight control network failure: 'Not due to a hacker attack'

Air traffic slowed down significantly throughout Italy due to a series of anomalies in the data transmission network supporting air traffic control services across the entire national territory. "Starting from 6:00, in consideration of the progressive increase in air traffic and the persistence of anomalies, to continue to guarantee maximum safety of operations - informs Enav - flow regulation measures have been introduced, which entail a temporary reduction in the management capacity of aircraft in Italian airspace".

"It is excluded that the anomalies are attributable to malicious activity." Enav underlines this by stating that there is neither a hacker attack nor sabotage behind the fault which is significantly slowing down air traffic in Italy.

The anomalies "on the geographical data transmission network in support of air traffic control services throughout the national territory" were found "during the night", the note informs. And "thanks to the activation of the foreseen contingency systems, Enav guaranteed the regular management of air traffic until 6:00 this morning, without any reduction in operational capacity". The technical checks, "still ongoing, have identified the origin of the anomalies in the data transmission network. Enav is working to identify the causes and restore full operation of the systems".

The inconveniences

At Fiumicino airport, as in the rest of Italy, due to a problem with the Enav data transmission network, there are repercussions on flights. At the moment, there are 4 canceled connections (Milan Linate, Riyadh, Tirana and Trieste) and around twenty flights delayed between 15 and 60 minutes. ADR is informing passengers, via the website, airport monitors and its own communication channels, that "due to technical problems with the air traffic control systems on a national scale, delays and cancellations may occur. Passengers are invited to check the status of their flight with the relevant airline".

Disruptions at Lombardy airports due to anomalies in the network that supports air traffic control services.

At Malpensa the departures board indicates delays from half an hour to over two hours, while those for arrivals are more limited. Delays also at Linate airport: from twenty minutes to an hour for arrivals, up to more than an hour for departures.

Problems also at Orio al Serio airport, in the province of Bergamo, where the 6.50 Ryanair for Trapani took off an hour and a half late; an hour and twenty minutes of delay also for the same company's flight to Berlin, while the arrival of the Volotea coming from Olbia at 7.45 is scheduled for 11.18. "Due to a technical problem on the services supporting the ENAV air traffic control system at a national level - reads a notice to passengers published on the airport's website -, scheduled flights may be subject to delays in departure and arrival".