A fault in the data transmission network that supports air traffic control services was detected overnight between Thursday and Friday, October 17, 2026, causing significant disruptions at multiple Italian airports. Enav, Italy’s national air navigation service provider, announced that from 6:00 a.m. on Friday, flow management measures were enacted to temporarily reduce airspace capacity. These measures aim to maintain operational safety amid the ongoing faults and a steady rise in air traffic. Enav confirmed that until 6:00 a.m., air traffic was managed normally without any reduction in capacity.
Flight Delays and Cancellations at Major Italian Airports
The network faults led to the cancellation of at least four flights
at Rome Fiumicino airport. Cancelled services from Rome included routes to Milan Linate, Riyadh, Tirana, and Trieste. Delays up to 60 minutes impacted additional flights at Fiumicino. Disruptions were also reported at Milan Linate, Milan Malpensa, and Naples Capodichino airports, with both delays and cancellations affecting operations. Airport operators at these locations urged passengers to confirm the status of their flights directly with their airlines.
Cause and Ongoing Investigation
Enav traced the source of the issue to faults within the data transmission network supporting air traffic control. The provider explicitly ruled out any connections between the faults and hacking attempts or sabotage. An investigation
remains underway to determine the precise causes and to reinstate full system functionality as soon as possible.
Operational Impact and Passenger Guidance
The enforced flow management measures introduced from 6:00 a.m. led to a temporary reduction in the capacity to handle aircraft within Italian airspace. 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.” Passengers at Italian airports should expect possible delays or cancellations
during the ongoing resolution process.
