Rome: Air travellers faced delays and cancellations across Italy on October 16 after a technical fault disrupted air traffic control services nationwide, prompting authorities to introduce temporary restrictions on flight capacity. Officials stated that the incident was not caused by malicious activity.
Air traffic control authority ENAV detected anomalies overnight in the data transmission network supporting air traffic control services across the country. The fault prompted temporary measures to limit traffic capacity while technical teams worked to address the disruption and restore normal operations.
Rome airports operator ADR warned passengers that delays and cancellations could affect flights because of the nationwide technical issues. The airport operator advised travellers to contact their airlines for the latest information about departures, arrivals and potential changes to their travel plans.
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— Milan Airports (@MiAirports) October 16, 2026
Milan airports operator SEA issued a similar notice, warning passengers about possible disruption. The problems affected air traffic control infrastructure serving airports across Italy, raising the possibility of delays for travellers using major aviation hubs in the country.
ENAV confirmed that the source of the technical problem had been identified and that efforts were under way to restore full operations. However, the authority did not immediately provide a detailed explanation of the fault or specify when normal traffic capacity would be fully restored.
The disruption came as airports urged passengers to monitor flight updates and remain in contact with airlines before travelling. Authorities said the technical fault was not linked to malicious activity, while recovery efforts continued. Travellers were advised to check their flight status before leaving for the airport and to follow any instructions issued by airlines regarding delays, cancellations or revised departure times.
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