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| Version 4 | Version 5 |
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| UK transatlantic flights grounded | UK transatlantic flights grounded |
| (11 minutes later) | |
| Transatlantic flights leaving the UK are grounded because of a breakdown in air traffic systems at Prestwick Airport in Scotland. | |
| The problems occurred at the airport's air traffic control hub at 0800BST causing delays across the country. | |
| A spokeswoman for NATS, responsible for the UK's air traffic management, said aircraft had been stopped from entering airspace over the north Atlantic. | A spokeswoman for NATS, responsible for the UK's air traffic management, said aircraft had been stopped from entering airspace over the north Atlantic. |
| Delays could be as much as three and a half hours, it is thought. | |
| The spokeswoman said: "NATS has reverted to manual systems which means reduced capacity leading to some delay. There is no safety implication." | |
| All airborne aircraft arriving in the UK have been safely landed using manual systems, she added. | All airborne aircraft arriving in the UK have been safely landed using manual systems, she added. |
| BBC transport correspondent Richard Scott said the computer had gone "zero rated" which meant it could not process any routings and everything had to be done manually. NATS are now in the process of trying to reboot the system. | |
| The problem concerns Shanwick Oceanic Control, which is the airspace area for the north east Atlantic 250 miles west of Ireland. | |
| BAA, the company which owns seven major UK airports including Heathrow and Gatwick, said: "We understand that NATS engineers are currently working to resolve an issue affecting Oceanic airspace. | BAA, the company which owns seven major UK airports including Heathrow and Gatwick, said: "We understand that NATS engineers are currently working to resolve an issue affecting Oceanic airspace. |
| "Passengers travelling to westbound destinations in the US and Canada may experience some delays, we recommend that our customers speak to their airline before arriving at Heathrow." | "Passengers travelling to westbound destinations in the US and Canada may experience some delays, we recommend that our customers speak to their airline before arriving at Heathrow." |
| British Airways said not all of its flights were affected. Its statement said: "Air Traffic Control issues are affecting all airlines operating flights out of the UK on transatlantic routes. | British Airways said not all of its flights were affected. Its statement said: "Air Traffic Control issues are affecting all airlines operating flights out of the UK on transatlantic routes. |
| "We, like all airlines, are experiencing some minor delays but our flights are still operating." | "We, like all airlines, are experiencing some minor delays but our flights are still operating." |
| Are you affected by the problems? Has your flight been grounded? Send us your comments using the form below. | Are you affected by the problems? Has your flight been grounded? Send us your comments using the form below. |
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