Aviation
Dutch air traffic was halted for two and a half hours during the night from Monday to Tuesday. According to Air Traffic Control the Netherlands (LVNL), there was a malfunction in the air traffic control system, which prevented aircraft from landing or taking off.
After 11 p.m. on Monday evening, only aircraft that were already close to a Dutch airport could still land there. Air traffic that was further away from its final destination must divert to other countries. No flights could take off.
“Safety is our top priority, which is why we switched to a backup system. After 11 p.m., several aircraft landed safely at Schiphol and other aircraft diverted,” the LVNL said in a statement.
A TUI flight from Tenerife had to divert to Brussels and a Transavia flight from Malaga landed at Ostend-Bruges airport. The problems were resolved around 1:30 am. The cause of the malfunction is not yet known.
Earlier on Monday, dozens of flights were canceled at Schiphol due to heavy gusts of wind.
