Scots flights delayed after air traffic control glitch

Flights from Edinburgh Airport, Glasgow and Aberdeen have all been delayed due to an air traffic control problem. Picture: Ian Georgeson

The problem was discovered to be interference on some of the radio frequencies the NATS base at Prestwick uses to communicate with aircraft.

NATS Prestwick controls all aircraft over Scotland, Northern Ireland, northern England and the North Sea between 2,500ft and 66,000ft, as well as aircraft flying between 2,500ft and 28,500ft over northern England, the Midlands and north Wales, and the airspace over the eastern half of the North Atlantic.

Several flights from Scottish airports to England were delayed by up to 1 hour and 50 minutes, and Edinburgh Airport reported this morning that an ‘ongoing issue at the Scottish Airspace control centre’ was causing delays to all flights.

A statement from NATS read: “We have had a technical problem overnight with interference on some radio frequencies that we use to speak to aircraft.

“It only affects part of Scottish airspace and flights from some Scottish airports this morning may be delayed as a result.

“We have identified the cause, isolated the problem and the situation is improving.

“We apologise sincerely for any inconvenience.”

A spokesman for Aberdeen Airport said a small number of delays were affecting southbound flights but it was hoped they would be back to normal “as soon as possible”.

One traveller flying to Paris via Amsterdam tweeted to say they were “stuck on a plane” at Glasgow Airport.

The airport said flights were now beginning to leave but there were some delays.

Passengers were asked via Twitter to check their airline for specific flight details.

A spokesman for Edinburgh Airport said: “Due to an ongoing issue at the Scottish Airspace control centre, there will be a delay to all flights this morning. We are still assessing the situation but customers should expect delays.”