Faults in the data transmission network supporting air traffic control services were detected during the night between 15 and 16 October 2026, affecting multiple Italian airports including Rome Fiumicino, Milan Linate, Milan Malpensa, and Naples Capodichino. The national air navigation service provider Enav announced that from 6:00 AM on 16 October, flow management measures were implemented to temporarily reduce the capacity to handle air traffic in Italian airspace.
At least four flights were cancelled at Rome Fiumicino Airport on Friday morning, with affected routes including Milan Linate, Riyadh, Tirana, and Trieste. Other flights at Rome and the Milan and Naples
airports faced delays of up to 60 minutes. Enav explained that despite the faults being identified earlier, normal air traffic management continued without any reduction in operating capacity until 6:00 AM, when the flow management procedures began due to the persistence of the faults and increasing air traffic volumes.
Enav denied any connection between the faults and hacker attacks or sabotage, stating ongoing work to determine the cause and restore full system operations. The provider emphasized that these measures were necessary to maintain the highest level of operational safety. The disruptions impacted air traffic operations regionally, with passengers urged to
confirm flight statuses with their airlines.
