A MAJOR UK airport suspended all flights this morning – sparking chaos for travellers.
All incoming and outgoing flights at Edinburgh Airport were hit by an air traffic control outage.
Flights have now resumed after the chaos – which saw passengers stuck on the tarmac for hours.
One user took to X to write: “We have been sat on the Tarmac since 6:45AM @easyJet @easyJetholiday to Paris. Completely unacceptable.”
The airport’s live information board, displaying individual flight info, showed some trips as delayed and others cancelled completely.
Both inbound and outbound flights were affected by the outage with several arrivals diverted to other airports.
Passengers faced with lengthy delays and cancellations were asked to check the airport’s website for further information on their specific flight.
Some passengers said they were stuck onboard planes on the tarmac “for hours” amid the chaos.
Aircraft tracking website Flightradar showed several planes circling in the sky above Edinburgh as they waited to be diverted elsewhere.
Other flights were seen making headway for nearby airports after they were diverted.
The site also showed 7 planes waiting on the tarmac with several due to leave between 8am and 9am this morning left in limbo.
Airport staff are scrabbled to solve the issue and managed to get air traffic control back online moments ago.
One flight bound for New York from the Scots airport was diverted to Dublin, some 3,000 miles away from its intended destination.
An Edinburgh Airport spokesperson earlier said: “Due to an IT issue with our air traffic control provider, no flights are currently operating from Edinburgh Airport.
“Teams are working on the issue and will resolve as soon as possible.
“Passengers should contact their airline for the latest information on their flight.”
Air traffic control (ATC) at Edinburgh airport is provided by Air Navigation Solutions (ANSL).
Nats, which manages most of the UK’s airspace, earlier said it would: “work closely with the airlines impacted and support as best we can.”
Edinburgh Airport works with 40 airlines and hosted more than 15.7 million passengers last year.
It is the 6th busiest airport in the UK.
Delays and cancellations in full
Arrivals:
10.05 – Flight BA1442 British Airways – from Heathrow – estimated 10.21
10.40 – Flight AF1686 Air France – from Paris CDG – estimated 11.30
11.30 – Flight EI3252 Aer Lingus – from Dublin – estimated 13.35
14.55 – Flight EI3656 Aer Lingus – from Belfast City – cancelled
Departures:
10.25 – Flight EZY6566 easyJet – to Gatwick – estimated 10.45
10.25 – Flight EZY6566 easyJet – to Gatwick – estimated 10.45
11.40 – Flight AF1687 Air France – to Paris CDG – estimated 12.20 – Also Flights AM5813, KQ3897, MK9373, UX2260, DL8308, VS6603, G35283
11.50 – Flight BA8703 British Airways – to London City – estimated 15.23
12.00 – Flight EI3253 Aer Lingus – to Dublin – estimated 14.00
12.55 – Flight BA8705 British Airways – to London City – estimated 15.59
12.55 – Flight BA8705 British Airways – to London City – estimated 15.59
15.25 – Flight EI3657 Aer Lingus – to Belfast City – cancelled