A malfunction in the data transmission network affected air traffic control services across several Italian airports on the morning of October 16, 2026. The fault was detected during the night before and triggered the activation of flow management measures from 6:00 AM, temporarily reducing the capacity to handle aircraft in Italian airspace.
Delays and Cancellations at Rome, Milan, and Naples
The disruptions resulted in at least four flight cancellations at Rome Fiumicino airport, impacting routes to Milan Linate, Riyadh, Tirana, and Trieste. Other flights at Rome experienced delays of up to 60 minutes. Similar delays and cancellations were also reported at Milan Linate, Milan Malpensa, and Naples Capodichino
airports.
Enav, Italy’s national air navigation service provider, confirmed that normal air traffic management was maintained without capacity reduction until 6:00 AM on October 16. The source of the faults was located in the data transmission network, and recovery efforts were ongoing. Enav stated, “From 6:00, in view of the steady increase in air traffic and the persistence of the faults, in order to continue guaranteeing the highest level of operational safety, flow management measures have been introduced, which mean a temporary reduction in the capacity to handle aircraft in Italian airspace.”
Passenger Impact and Security Confirmation
Passengers at the affected airports faced disturbances in
flight schedules including delays and cancellations throughout the day. Airport operators advised travelers to verify the status of their flights directly with their airlines. Enav explicitly ruled out any connections between the network faults and hacker attacks or sabotage.
Cause and Ongoing Response
The faults were identified within the data transmission network supporting air traffic control. Enav is working to determine the cause and restore full operational capacity. The introduction of flow management measures reflects a balance between managing increased air traffic and maintaining operational safety amid persistent technical issues.
