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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Delays continue at Dublin airport | Delays continue at Dublin airport |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Thousands of passengers are again delayed at Dublin Airport following the collapse of the air traffic control radar system on Wednesday. | Thousands of passengers are again delayed at Dublin Airport following the collapse of the air traffic control radar system on Wednesday. |
| The Irish Aviation Authority has said the fault has been identified. | The Irish Aviation Authority has said the fault has been identified. |
| There are long queues at check-in desks and airlines are working to clear the backlog of passengers waiting to travel. | There are long queues at check-in desks and airlines are working to clear the backlog of passengers waiting to travel. |
| Aer Lingus has urged people not to come to the airport if they do not have a confirmed booking. | Aer Lingus has urged people not to come to the airport if they do not have a confirmed booking. |
| "The problem we've got this morning is, given the very large number of displaced passengers yesterday (Wednesday), all our flights today are going virtually full," said Aer Lingus Chief Executive Dermot Mannion. | "The problem we've got this morning is, given the very large number of displaced passengers yesterday (Wednesday), all our flights today are going virtually full," said Aer Lingus Chief Executive Dermot Mannion. |
| "It's going to be extremely busy and difficult to get away. But passengers with confirmed bookings, we would ask them to check in as normal." There was no common sense used in the situation, certainly common sense didn't prevail Pamela Wallace, passenger | "It's going to be extremely busy and difficult to get away. But passengers with confirmed bookings, we would ask them to check in as normal." There was no common sense used in the situation, certainly common sense didn't prevail Pamela Wallace, passenger |
| Irish Aviation Authority spokeswoman Lillian Cassin said the fault was first reported at 1145 BST on Wednesday and it was fully functioning 10 minutes later, but the system failed a second time. | Irish Aviation Authority spokeswoman Lillian Cassin said the fault was first reported at 1145 BST on Wednesday and it was fully functioning 10 minutes later, but the system failed a second time. |
| Ms Cassin said air traffic controllers have experienced similar problems over the last four to five weeks, but that Wednesday's malfunction was the longest period the code system had failed. | Ms Cassin said air traffic controllers have experienced similar problems over the last four to five weeks, but that Wednesday's malfunction was the longest period the code system had failed. |
| "Obviously, it's not acceptable and that's why every effort has been made to identify the problem and we're confident now we have identified the problem in conjunction with the manufacturers of this air traffic system," she said. | "Obviously, it's not acceptable and that's why every effort has been made to identify the problem and we're confident now we have identified the problem in conjunction with the manufacturers of this air traffic system," she said. |
| "So again I have to emphasise the system is safe, the system is stable. | "So again I have to emphasise the system is safe, the system is stable. |
| "Our normal rate is 25 departures an hour. We are now operating at about 20 departures an hour." | "Our normal rate is 25 departures an hour. We are now operating at about 20 departures an hour." |
| Thousands of holidaymakers faced delays | |
| But Ryanair's chief executive Michael O'Leary dismissed claims the airport was returning to normal. | But Ryanair's chief executive Michael O'Leary dismissed claims the airport was returning to normal. |
| He said that although the first wave of flights went out on time, people were now experiencing delays of up to a couple of hours. | He said that although the first wave of flights went out on time, people were now experiencing delays of up to a couple of hours. |
| "What happens if you start taking those sort of delays is that it builds up very rapidly, the system backs up and we think it will collapse again," he said. | "What happens if you start taking those sort of delays is that it builds up very rapidly, the system backs up and we think it will collapse again," he said. |
| "The system clearly isn't fixed, if it was fixed it would be operating at full capacity." | "The system clearly isn't fixed, if it was fixed it would be operating at full capacity." |
| Several flights had to be diverted to Belfast International Airport and scores were delayed or cancelled. | Several flights had to be diverted to Belfast International Airport and scores were delayed or cancelled. |
| Pamela Wallace from Ballymena was on a flight from Dubrovnik due to land in Dublin on Wednesday afternoon. | Pamela Wallace from Ballymena was on a flight from Dubrovnik due to land in Dublin on Wednesday afternoon. |
| "Our flight was diverted to Belfast International and they kept us on runway for three hours. | "Our flight was diverted to Belfast International and they kept us on runway for three hours. |
| "The Northern Irish passengers on the flight said to the air stewardesses would there be any possibility that we could be taken off because it would have been handier, rather than bussing us or flying us back down to Dublin to join the chaos down there. | "The Northern Irish passengers on the flight said to the air stewardesses would there be any possibility that we could be taken off because it would have been handier, rather than bussing us or flying us back down to Dublin to join the chaos down there. |
| "Initially they said that this would be possible and then they changed that decision and we were then eventually flown back down to Dublin." | "Initially they said that this would be possible and then they changed that decision and we were then eventually flown back down to Dublin." |
| The airport was shut down at about 1400 BST on Wednesday because air traffic controllers could not see the codes used to label incoming aircraft. | The airport was shut down at about 1400 BST on Wednesday because air traffic controllers could not see the codes used to label incoming aircraft. |
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| Reaction to the problem from passengers in Dublin and those diverted to Belfast International Airport | Reaction to the problem from passengers in Dublin and those diverted to Belfast International Airport |