Air traffic control— cyber attack?

That actually makes it even more likely that it's a targeted attack, imo. I'm a systems person, so is the DH who thinks the same.

Not a big leap at all OP, and quite probably the truth. There some fascinating naivety and wishful thinking going on on this thread.

It's effecting all southern UK airspace to some degree, it's just not manifesting itself at the smaller airports quite as much because less movements means less demand on ramp space.

I.wouldn't worry about the flight safety side of this - the system did what it was meant to and stopped.

The bigger practical problem is if/when crews go out of hours and flights get definitively cancelled until ? there's a fair chance there won't be enough hotel rooms to go round, even at somewhere like LHR.

I don't think it's all airports, flights seem OK at Bournemouth for example. There are a lot of people sat on planes on the tarmac. Apparently Heathrow has ran out of space as all grounded.

". After all, Malmo is in Sweden for most people, but is Copenhagen for Ryanair"

😄😃

Duplicate names does not surprise me. After all, Malmo is in Sweden for most people, but is Copenhagen for Ryanair.

I think it is just some glitch not a cyber attacj.

It’s pretty ironic timing if it wasn’t Israel.

Speculation in cyber channels that it was a 'demonstration' by Israel shortly after the sanctions were announced. I know some Israeli cyber guys, this wouldn't surprise me at all. Or Russian cyber rattling taking advantage of the timing. Or just a temporary technical glitch on a triple redundant system ........... who knows, we will never.

Note: as this is classed as exceptional circumstances airlines are not liable. This they are not liable for compensation.

This is where you need travel insurance if you are affected.

This will piss off a lot of people when they realise.

Here is NATS saying they have switched the system off and on again.

It’s cheaper for budget airlines to cancel and rebook than it’ll be to get operate on a delay

For those interested and slightly fluent in aviation speak here is a C&P of the Eurocontrol summary of the UK situation at around 1815 BST..the times in the C&P itself are GMT, hopefully those times will improve.

Aerodromes:

EGGW (London Luton)
Arrivals regulated at a reduced rate due to ATC Equipment (Data processing issues).
Aerodrome not available for arrivals between 1620-2200.
High delays.

EGKK (London Gatwick)
Arrivals regulated at a reduced rate due to ATC Equipment (Data processing issues).
Aerodrome not available for arrivals between 1500-2200.
High delays

EGLL (London Heathrow)
Arrivals regulated at a reduced rate due to ATC Equipment (Data processing issues).
Aerodrome not available for arrivals between 1400-2200.
High delays

EGLC (London City)
Arrivals regulated at a reduced rate due to ATC Equipment (Data processing issues).
Aerodrome not available for arrivals until 2355.
High delays.

EGSS (London Stansted)
Arrivals regulated at a reduced rate due to ATC Equipment (Data processing issues).
Aerodrome not available for arrivals between 1700-2200.
High delays.

Airspace:

EGTT (UK)
All sectors regulated at reduced rates until 0000 due to ATC Equipment (Data processing issues).
High delays.

As someone that also works in cybersecurity, ATC is a high value target and it is just as likely now that an IT failure is due to deliberate attack as it is that it is human error or a systems failure (actually this is less likely now, IT hardware is pretty resilient and redundant). No way for us mere mortals to know of course but it is incorrect to scoff at the idea that it could be a deliberate hack - that is just as likely as software failure and both, statistically, more likely than hardware failure in 2026.

You would want to get a flight to Manchester from Heathrow if you could as there's likely spaces on the return flight for all the people stranded at Manchester.

BTW there have been a few shorthaul departures out of LHR in the last half hour (one to MAN, one to GLA), so.something is working but the flow rate is glacial so problems continue.

I know one should never say never but assuming every time a system burps it's a cyber attack isn't healthy or even realistic, even if it's fashionable.

This was flagged up as a specific problem with a specific sub-system on the flight planning side of the NATS set up very early on.

Heathrow has flights that landed 4hrs ago but can't park up as there is no where for passengers to disembark.

It sounds like Manchester is getting to a similar state of affairs.

They will be parking flights for London in Amsterdam soon at this rate.

It is entirely possible it's not Israel even if it is a hack! Don't assume this.

If it is there is also the possibility of Iran or Russia. Russia has been targeting German airports with drones and other activity in the last few weeks.

Plus DH works in tech and if very familiar with idiots nuking their own systems by accident. That's without considering AI as an option.

Personally I think all bets are off given the current climate. Too many possibilities!

I've just spent the afternoon taking the OH to the airport, hanging around various shops as he saw an 'ATC issue' video on the way there and I had a bad feeling about it, and then going back to pick him up. He has rebooked for thursday but its just such a faff.

@RedToothBrushthanks, I needed confirmation. It’s quite scary so many think Israel may have done this.

It means that some people believe that Israel is either responsible for a hack or are refusing to help fix a hack (some people are saying they have helped with previous issues - which I have no idea if it's true or not).

This is based on zero evidence.

FAFO means fuck around and finding out and it's a reference to actions having consequences in this case the implication that it's connected to the decision to block trade to the west bank.

This is all hugely spectaculative and heavily political.

Sigh.

Heathrow was apparently able to land flights until it ran out of space to put planes because none could depart.

Also, easyJet and Ryanair have an issue with where planes end up. Some planes will do say Luton to Brussels and then Brussels to Manchester. But if the flight can't leave Luton, the flight from Brussels to Manchester gets affected too.

So it is a right mess.

What does this mean?