Iceland airspace closed, large number of aircrafts diverted

Keflavik International terminal

Keflavik International terminal Photo: Iceland Monitor/Sigurður Bogi Sævarsson

The airspace around Iceland was closed earlier today due to system malfunction.

The Reykjavik Area Control Centre experienced a systems malfunction starting at 13:40 (UCT) today resulting in a large number of aircraft diversions to stay clear of the area, according to a statement issued by Isavia.

According to Isavia’s spokesman Guðni Sigurðsson, it is not known at this point what caused the malfunction, but new aircrafts were not allowed to enter the air space and were diverted while the system was being repaired.

“Several aircrafts that were about to enter the airspace had to change course,” Sigurðsson said. The Norwegian website Avinor reported that some aircrafts needed to turn around and land in Bergen, Norway, while others were diverted to Glasgow, Scotland.

The situation has now been resolved and the system is up and running. New aircrafts are being accepted into the Icelandic airspace, one area at a time.

Delays were expected at Keflavik International airport this afternoon.

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