A Nuts the Sea warned travellers, as happened in other airports, of the non-operation of flights for several hours this afternoon, Sunday 20 October. At the basis of the inconveniences there were problems with theEnav. The first news arrived via social media from several travelers present at the Lombardy airports. Disturbances were also recorded at the airport Orio al Serio.
From SEA, during the outage, they announced over the loudspeakers that the planes were not leaving or landing. All flights to and from the airports were therefore blocked. The inconveniences caused a cascade of delays which inevitably also affected the other airports in northern Italy, from Genoa to Turin.
From Enav they let it be known that a problem has occurred at the radar center in Milan which manages the airspace of the North-West area (which therefore covers the Lombardy airports, that of Turin and that of Genoa). The main operating software has blacked out. When this happens, as a rule, we switch to the backup operating system which does not allow us to accommodate one hundred percent of the air traffic. Hence the severe inconveniences recorded in the airports of northern Italy.
The problem occurred around 5.30pm and continued for around 30 minutes (the time needed to restart the main software). During this period of time, narrow gauge work was carried out, with auptime by approximately 35 percent compared to the normal operation of the main software.
Thus, for example, at Linate the flight to Frankfurt scheduled for 5.30pm took off at 7.18pm, while the 5.45pm flight to London left at 7.23pm. And there was no shortage of cancellations. The same goes for incoming planes. If a Wizzair flight arriving from Tirana to Orio al Serio landed in Bologna, a Ryanair flight from Hamburg fared worse which, instead of landing in Italy, stopped in Memmingen, one hundred kilometers from Munich. And yet another flight from Castellon de la Playa made a stop in Marseille, France. Other flights were diverted to Venice, Trieste, Rome.
We will now need to understand how individual airlines intend to reorganize the delayed flights and those scheduled for the next few hours: they will have to understand how to restart flights based on the availability of the airports and staff shifts.
Flight Chaos in Northern Italy: An Afternoon to Forget
Nuts and Sea have turned into a bit of a circus, as air travel recently took a nosedive into utter pandemonium. On this fateful Sunday, the 20th of October, travellers across northern Italy found themselves in an unexpected game of “guess when your flight might actually take off.” Spoiler alert: it was not a game anyone wanted to play!
What Went Wrong?
Reports of flight delays began circulating through social media like an urban legend at a campfire. And let’s face it, nothing spells adventure quite like sitting in an airport, praying for a flight while trying to decipher the faint sounds of confusion echoing from the loudspeakers. According to the SEA, who appear to have taken on the role of the world’s most undesired tour guide, flights were grounded like a bad airplane pun.
The issue? A glitch at the Enav radar center in Milan, which manages airspace that typically operates smoother than a well-shined banister. However, this time? Let’s just say the radar wasn’t operating at its prime. The main operating software experienced a blackout, and instead of making smooth landings, the situation felt more like a game of dodgeball with planes trying to avoid each other!
The Spillover Effect
And what’s this cascade of delays we’ve heard about? Why, it’s like a domino effect, but instead of falling tiles, we have frustrated passengers! With flights between Lombardy and airports in Turin and Genoa thrown into a state of disarray, it was a spicy blend of “Fly, delay, cancel, repeat.” Who knew air travel could turn into a comedy sketch on international relations?
Time Is Not on Our Side
The problem began just after 5:30 PM, leaving travellers with 30 minutes of grounded angst, as malfunctioning technology seems to prefer an uninvited dance party over efficient travel. Just imagine watching your flight time tick away, all while the announcement informs you that you’ll be leaving “fashionably late” — which, by the way, isn’t a thing when catching flights!
At Linate, for instance, a flight to Frankfurt scheduled for 5:30 PM finally took off at 7:18 PM! That’s nearly an hour-and-a-half late! If you were planning to dine in Frankfurt, you might just have to settle for a snack at the airport instead. As for those unlucky Ryanair passengers arriving from Hamburg? Let’s just say they landed in Memmingen, which is *not* exactly the holiday destination they had envisaged, a good hundred kilometers from Munich! Oops!
The Aftermath and Next Steps
So what’s the aftermath of this air travel calamity? Passengers will surely be hearing from their airlines regarding how to reorganize the delayed flights. Here’s a thought: perhaps they could send over a carrier pigeon to deliver updates? I mean, it could hardly be less efficient than their current situation.
As the dust settles (rather slowly, I’d wager), one thing is clear: when air travel starts feeling like a game of roulette, it’s time to re-evaluate your travel plans. So here’s to hoping the individual airlines can pull their socks up—because no stranger wants a potted plant as a travel buddy when stranded at an airport!
Final Thoughts
In the world of air travel, patience is not just a virtue, it’s a survival skill. So next time you find yourself basking under the fluorescent airport lights, accept your misadventure with a hearty laugh—after all, every chaotic flight story could use a touch of humor. And maybe a future stand-up gig—who says the airport has to be boring?
Until we fly again, dear readers, remember to hold on to your boarding passes and your sanity! Safe travels!
