Brief: Air traffic computer failure grounds flights over U.K.

IDG News Service - A computer failure early this morning caused flights across the U.K. to be temporarily grounded, according to the national air traffic control operator.

The computer breakdown occurred at the West Drayton air traffic center near London Heathrow Airport between 6:05 and 6:40 a.m. local time, a spokesman for National Air Traffic Services Ltd. said. The spokesman declined to outline the details of the system failure, though he did confirm that it was the second such computer breakdown in two weeks.

All flight data handled by the computer system had to be prepared by hand, causing delays of two to three hours for passengers at Heathrow, London Gatwick and London Stansted airports and at Manchester Airport in northern England, he said.



Related stories:

• Software upgrade glitch grounds Los Angeles airport, Oct. 23, 2000



• FAA faces more criticism for computer security failings, Sept. 27, 2000