Close X
Wednesday, December 4, 2024
ADVT 
International

Independent inquiry into Britain's flight chaos

Darpan News Desk IANS, 15 Dec, 2014 10:19 AM
    An independent inquiry will be initiated into the air traffic control computer failure which disrupted flights at Britain's airports last week, officials said Monday.
     
    National Air Traffic Services (NATS) has blamed a software glitch at its centre at Swanwick in Hampshire, BBC reported.
     
    The inquiry will look at NATS' handling of the incident and whether lessons were learnt from previous failures.
     
    Later, Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin will be questioned by members of parliament about the incident.
     
    Britain's Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has said that it would appoint an independent chair to lead the inquiry, which will take evidence from experts on information technology and air traffic control.
     
    The computer failure caused huge problems at airports around the country Friday -- including delays at Heathrow and Gatwick, where departing flights were grounded. 
     
    Heathrow Airport cancelled about 40 flights Saturday before normal services resumed.
     
    It comes a year after a telephone failure at the Hampshire control room which also caused flights to be disrupted -- one of a number of technical hitches to hit the partly-privatised NATS since the Swanwick centre opened in 2002.
     
    The transport secretary said the system failure was "unacceptable" and asked for a full explanation from NATS about what went wrong.

    MORE International ARTICLES

    Australian Batsman Phillip Hughes Dies Two Days After Being Hit By Ball During Cricket Match

    Australian Batsman Phillip Hughes Dies Two Days After Being Hit By Ball During Cricket Match
    Australian batsman Phillip Hughes, who was struck on the head by a cricket ball died in hospital, authorities said Thursday.

    Australian Batsman Phillip Hughes Dies Two Days After Being Hit By Ball During Cricket Match

    'Death By A Thousand Cuts:' Memo To PM Questions Across-the-board Budget Cuts

    'Death By A Thousand Cuts:' Memo To PM Questions Across-the-board Budget Cuts
    OTTAWA — Prime Minister Stephen Harper was briefed earlier this year on how across-the-board budget cuts hurt public service morale, productivity and citizen satisfaction.

    'Death By A Thousand Cuts:' Memo To PM Questions Across-the-board Budget Cuts

    Indian-origin IS member poses with newborn on Twitter

    Indian-origin IS member poses with newborn on Twitter
    An Indian-origin Islamist who skipped bail in Britain to join the Sunni radical group Islamic State (IS) in Syria has posed on Twitter with his newborn son hailing....

    Indian-origin IS member poses with newborn on Twitter

    Bell Tells CRTC Says Telecom Markets Don't Need More Regulation

    Bell Tells CRTC Says Telecom Markets Don't Need More Regulation
    GATINEAU, Que. — Canada's Internet market is already highly competitive and should not be regulated further, says one of the country's largest players.

    Bell Tells CRTC Says Telecom Markets Don't Need More Regulation

    'Indian-origin woman killing in Sydney too well-planned'

    'Indian-origin woman killing in Sydney too well-planned'
    The case of an Indian woman's killing by her jilted NRI husband is being heard in Australia and the police report indicates that the incident was so well-planned...

    'Indian-origin woman killing in Sydney too well-planned'

    Municipal Workers Stage Rolling Protests Across Quebec Against Proposed Pension Reforms

    Municipal Workers Stage Rolling Protests Across Quebec Against Proposed Pension Reforms
    MONTREAL — Noisy and disruptive demonstrations are rolling across the province today as municipal workers hold a 24-hour protest against proposed pension reforms.

    Municipal Workers Stage Rolling Protests Across Quebec Against Proposed Pension Reforms