ENAV rules out cyberattack as data fault forces reduction in air traffic capacity.Air traffic was heavily disrupted across Italy on Friday morning after a fault in the data network supporting air traffic control, with delays expected at airports nationwide.Italy’s air navigation service provider, ENAV, said the anomalies were detected overnight on the national network that supports air traffic control services across the country.Emergency contingency systems allowed traffic to be managed normally until 06.00, with no reduction in operational capacity, ENAV said.As the number of flights rose and the fault persisted, the company introduced flow-regulation measures from 06.00 to ensure safety. These have temporarily reduced the number of aircraft that can be handled in Italian airspace.Technicians have traced the fault to the data transmission network and are working to establish the cause and restore full functionality. ENAV said it ruled out a cyberattack or sabotage.The problems come on a day when strike action is also affecting air travel in Italy: pilots and cabin crew at British airline easyJet are staging a 24-hour on strike, from midnight until 23.59 on Friday night.Travellers are advised to check the status of their flights with their airline before heading to the airport. Photo credit: Canary4stock / Shutterstock.com

Air traffic was heavily disrupted across Italy on Friday morning after a fault in the data network supporting air traffic control, with delays expected at airports nationwide. Italy’s air navigation service provider, ENAV, said the anomalies were detected overnight on the national network that supports air traffic control services across the country.

Emergency contingency systems allowed traffic to be managed normally until 06.00, with no reduction in operational capacity, ENAV said.

As the number of flights rose and the fault persisted, the company introduced flow-regulation measures from 06.00 to ensure safety. These have temporarily reduced the number of aircraft that can be handled in Italian airspace.

Technicians have traced the fault to the data transmission network and are working to establish the cause and restore full functionality. ENAV said it ruled out a cyberattack or sabotage.

The problems come on a day when strike action is also affecting air travel in Italy: pilots and cabin crew at British airline easyJet are staging a 24-hour on strike, from midnight until 23.59 on Friday night.

Travellers are advised to check the status of their flights with their airline before heading to the airport. Photo credit: Canary4stock / Shutterstock.com