On Saturday evening, a significant disruption affected thousands of passengers in north-eastern Italy due to a breakdown in the radar system at Milan’s Linate airport. The failure occurred around 21:00 CEST and lasted for about two hours, resulting in over three hundred flights being canceled or diverted across airports in Lombardy, Piedmont, and Liguria. Major airports, including those in Venice, Rome, and Pisa, were also impacted. The National Flight Assistance Authority (Enav) announced that the issue was resolved around midnight, leading to a gradual normalization of air traffic. The president of the National Civil Aviation Authority (Enac), Pierluigi Di Palma, indicated that an investigation would follow to determine the causes and prevent future incidents.
Travelers faced considerable challenges due to the breakdown. For instance, an Italian tourist named Andrea, who was en route from Gran Canaria to Bergamo’s Orio al Serio airport, found himself rerouted to Pisa without promised replacement buses. Upon arrival, he learned that no such transport was available, leading him to face exorbitant taxi fares or sold-out train tickets. He eventually opted for a hotel stay and planned to travel to Milan the next morning, highlighting the personal inconveniences brought about by the technical failure. The situation was underscored by Flightradar24 data, which showed a complete halt in aircraft movement in the affected airspace during the incident.
User associations quickly responded, seeking answers from the Ministry of Transport and Enav regarding the disruption. The consumer rights organization Codacons even filed a complaint with the Milan Public Prosecutor’s Office for potential public service interruptions, labeling the incident as severe and significantly damaging to air travel, particularly concerning the summer holiday rush. Such breakdowns during peak travel periods lead to increased economic and emotional distress for affected passengers. Consumer advocacy groups have raised concerns about the reliability of modern technological systems and called for significant reforms in European legislation to ensure robust contingency arrangements against system failures.
Assoutenti, another civic and consumer rights group, echoed similar sentiments, emphasizing that the air transport sector should not suffer from a single technical fault. According to the group’s president, Gabriele Melluso, effective risk management protocols must be developed. He also highlighted the need to examine the impact of extreme heatwaves on the operational integrity of data centers and urged for an independent investigation into the radar failure. This outcry reflects broader concerns over infrastructure robustness and proactive measures in aeronautical operations.
In light of the disruptions, RimborsoAlVolo, a company specializing in flight refund solutions, advised affected passengers regarding their rights under EC Regulation 261/2004. It reiterated that airlines must offer assistance, including meals and accommodations for delays or cancellations. Moreover, passengers are urged to keep receipts for any expenses incurred during this inconvenience, as they may be entitled to reimbursement. However, the general manager of RimborsoAlVolo, Kathrin Cois, noted that passengers might not qualify for additional compensation due to the classification of the incident as a force majeure situation, thereby placing no liability on the airlines.
Overall, the radar breakdown at Milan’s Linate airport serves as a reminder of the fragility of air transport systems and the profound impact such failures can have on travelers. As investigations unfold and consumer groups advocate for reforms, the incident highlights an urgent need for enhancing the reliability of air navigation technologies to prevent similar incidents in the future, especially during high-traffic periods. Immediate reactions from associations and the push for accountability reflect a collective demand for improvement in the industry’s operational infrastructure, ensuring that disruptions of this magnitude become a rare occurrence rather than an alarming trend.
