An ageing computer system is being blamed for the recent air traffic control meltdown. According to an expert, the chaos may have originated from a controller inputting too many dots in a flight plan request. The disruption, which began on Monday, was caused by a single flight plan and continues to affect numerous flights even after two days. Controllers require specific information for each flight, such as flight number, aircraft type, destination, and route. If these details are not properly formatted and spaced, the computer may fail to recognize the data, leading to a system collapse. Former British Airways boss Willie Walsh described the failure as “staggering”. Many affected travellers are experiencing significant delays, with some even sleeping on airport floors or needing to take alternative land routes. Airlines have received criticism for not arranging hotel accommodations for passengers who were delayed overnight.
Air traffic control expert Michele Robson explained that failures in the past have been due to bad information inputted in the incorrect format. She stated that it could be something unusual, such as a small operator doing something out of the ordinary. Robson further emphasized that the system rarely fails, but when it does, it requires manual intervention. Despite the challenges, air traffic controllers are well-prepared and accustomed to working under pressure. Chief Executive of National Air Traffic Services, Martin Rolfe, defended the system, stating that safety is the top priority and even throwing away data needs to be carefully considered.
When the failure first occurred on Monday, the system switched to its backup mode to prevent false information from being presented to air traffic controllers. As it became apparent that the issue would not be resolved within the backup period, the system was switched to manual mode, requiring controllers to input flight plans individually. This time-consuming process led to a significant reduction in the number of aircraft that could be handled. While the system was fully restored by Monday afternoon, the aftermath continued to disrupt flights, and passengers have been left stranded.
Willie Walsh expressed astonishment that a piece of incorrect data could cause the system to collapse, emphasizing that the system should be designed to reject such data. Meanwhile, it was revealed that the CEO of National Air Traffic Services received a substantial increase in pay last year, raising questions about who should be held accountable for the disruption. The overall cost of the chaos to airlines is estimated to be around £100 million.
As the situation continues, more flights are being cancelled, and passengers are facing long delays and lack of support. Airlines have been criticized for their failure to arrange hotel accommodations for stranded passengers. The current situation raises concerns about the level of support and assistance provided to affected travellers.
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