Communications issue causing delays at three Australian airports including Perth

A technical issue within the Melbourne air traffic service center caused significant flight delays at Perth, Adelaide, and Melbourne airports. The disruption, which began around 2 PM on Tuesday, forced air traffic controllers to revert to manually entering flight plans. While Airservices Australia, the entity managing air traffic operations, assured that safety and communication between controllers and aircraft remained unaffected, the manual workaround led to considerable traffic management measures at the affected airports.

Perth Airport confirmed that both arriving and departing flights faced hold-ups, urging passengers to verify their flight status with their respective airlines. Similarly, Melbourne Airport acknowledged the impact on departures, cautioning passengers about potential delays until the issue's resolution. Adelaide Airport reported ongoing operations but with delays reaching up to an hour.

One specific instance involved a Melbourne to Sydney flight that remained grounded on the tarmac for over an hour, awaiting clearance. As of now, the root cause of the technical issue remains unclear, and the estimated time for a complete resolution has not been disclosed. Passengers traveling through these airports are advised to stay updated on potential disruptions.