Brazilian aviation authorities have suspended flights from three major airports after a failure in the air traffic communications system.
Brazilian aviation authorities have suspended flights from three major airports after a failure in the air traffic communications system.
Take-offs were suspended in the capital Brasilia and in Belo Horizonte, while most were also cancelled at Sao Paulo's domestic airport.
Take-offs were suspended in the capital Brasilia and in Belo Horizonte, while most were also cancelled at Sao Paulo's domestic airport.
International flights to and from Sao Paulo's other airport were unaffected.
International flights to and from Sao Paulo's other airport were unaffected.
Flights throughout Brazil have already been disrupted for several months as air traffic controllers work to rule.
Flights throughout Brazil have already been disrupted for several months as air traffic controllers work to rule.
Equipment failure
Equipment failure
Landings were allowed at all three airports and the busy Sao Paulo-Rio de Janeiro shuttle was unaffected.
Landings were allowed at all three airports and the busy Sao Paulo-Rio de Janeiro shuttle was unaffected.
An equipment failure made it difficult for air traffic controllers to communicate with pilots, throwing the three airports into chaos.
An equipment failure made it difficult for air traffic controllers to communicate with pilots, throwing the three airports into chaos.
The director of Brazil's aviation agency, Milton Zuanazzi, said there had never been a collapse of communications like it before.
The director of Brazil's aviation agency, Milton Zuanazzi, said there had never been a collapse of communications like it before.
He could give no estimate how long repairs would take.
He could give no estimate how long repairs would take.
Following Brazil's worst air crash disaster in September, air traffic controllers have been refusing to handle more flights than international guidelines recommend.
Following Brazil's worst air crash disaster in September, air traffic controllers have been refusing to handle more flights than international guidelines recommend.
They say they are overworked, underpaid and understaffed, putting safety at risk.
They say they are overworked, underpaid and understaffed, putting safety at risk.
Authorities are still investigating whether air traffic controllers had a role in the 29 September mid-air collision over the Amazon jungle between a Gol airlines Boeing 737 passenger jet and a small executive jet.
Authorities are still investigating whether air traffic controllers had a role in the 29 September mid-air collision over the Amazon jungle between a Gol airlines Boeing 737 passenger jet and a small executive jet.
All 154 people on board the Gol flight were killed.
All 154 people on board the Gol flight were killed.
A Brazilian court ruled on Tuesday that the two American pilots of the executive jet can leave Brazil.
A Brazilian court ruled on Tuesday that the two American pilots of the executive jet can leave Brazil.
Authorities had prevented them from leaving while the crash was being investigated.
Authorities had prevented them from leaving while the crash was being investigated.
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