Total radar failure at Shannon Air Traffic Control (ATC) centre last night forced the closure of Irish airspace to overflights, the rerouting and grounding of dozens of flights, and the deployment of an Emergency Air Situation Display System (EASDS) in an effort to maintain safety in the skies. The radar collapse affected a state-of-the-art system staff were told could never fail. One source in ATC told the Irish Examiner staff at Shannon had been “repeatedly told” that the system “could never fail”. It is understood that the ATC training school at Shannon Airport does not have the facilities to conduct such a simulation. Shannon centre management were summonsed to the centre and additional air traffic controllers were called in.

Source: Irish Examiner October 02, 2018 23:37 UTC