Over the last several hours, the air traffic situation in Britain has plunged into a state of turmoil, prompting some segments of the media to attribute the crisis to a cyber-attack. Indeed, the reports you’ve come across are accurate.
Nevertheless, no concrete evidence has emerged to support the notion that the disruption was the result of a digital assault. This upheaval, which led to more than 500 flights experiencing delays of up to 12 hours, along with complications during landings, network malfunctions, and issues linked to NATS (National Air Traffic Controllers), appears to have been triggered by a different cause.
Sources within the realm of cybersecurity have informed Cybersecurity Insiders that a technical malfunction ensued due to a corrupted file within the operational database. This assertion has also been endorsed by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). However, the origins of this corrupted file and its subsequent impact on the extensive NATS traffic system remain shrouded in uncertainty.
It’s worth recalling a similar incident that unfolded in the United States’ air traffic system around this same time last year. In that instance, a group of hackers known as Killnet, reportedly backed by the Russian Federation, launched a Denial of Service attack.
This juncture of the year typically witnesses a substantial number of people capitalizing on bank holidays for leisure travel or to reconnect with loved ones. Thus, a delay of up to 12 hours could severely disrupt the travel plans and itineraries of both individuals and business travelers embarking on important trips.
Flights currently airborne are being redirected to the nearest airports, ensuring that passengers will be safely transported to their intended destinations via alternate means.
National Air Control Stations play a crucial role in monitoring flight paths and ensuring secure arrivals. However, the current scenario with UK air traffic control is one of considerable disarray. Consequently, flights traversing the European airspace might be subject to delays spanning anywhere from 2 to 16 hours.
NOTE- Compensation for flight delays are subjected to rules issued during the ticket booking by airliners.
