Air traffic control issue causes flight chaos

A technical issue at Airservices Australia's Melbourne Air Traffic Service Centre caused significant flight disruptions across Melbourne, Perth, and Adelaide Airports. The disruption forced air traffic controllers to revert to manual flight plan entries, triggering traffic management measures to maintain safety. While Airservices Australia affirmed that safety, air traffic control, and communication remained unaffected, the incident led to arrival delays exceeding an hour at Melbourne Airport, with Perth and Adelaide also experiencing knock-on effects.

The issue began Tuesday afternoon, impacting arrivals and departures and causing delays of up to an hour for some flights. Technicians worked to rectify the problem, but the reversion to manual processes slowed operations and created a backlog. The incident highlights the vulnerability of air traffic control systems and the potential for even brief technical glitches to cascade into widespread delays.

Airservices Australia has not yet released details on the root cause of the technical issue. The incident underscores the importance of robust backup systems and contingency plans within air traffic control to minimize disruptions. Further investigation is expected to determine the precise nature of the fault and prevent future occurrences.