An air traffic control body said a software glitch caused widespread disruption to air travel, leading to the cancellation of more than 2,000 flights and affecting hundreds of thousands of passengers.
Scope of the disruption
The agency said the failure prompted a substantial number of cancellations and knock-on delays across the network, leaving a large number of travellers unable to complete planned journeys. Airlines and airports were forced to adjust schedules in response to the shortfall in available services.
Technical cause
In its statement the air traffic control body attributed the immediate cause of the disruption to a software fault. The organisation did not provide further technical detail in that announcement.
Implications
The scale of the cancellations highlights the reliance of commercial air travel on complex control systems. Passengers, carriers and other stakeholders are awaiting further information from the air traffic control body about the cause of the fault and any measures to prevent similar incidents in future.