Avinor, Gardermoen | The error has been corrected and the air space is gradually opening

The airspace over the whole of southern Norway was completely closed early Thursday morning as a result of a technical error at the Oslo Control Center. The error occurred a little before 6:30 a.m. The cause was unknown, but Avinor ruled out that it was a computer attack.

At 8.40 some traffic could be opened up again.

– We are told that there will be some opening in the restrictions, and that some planes will be allowed to land now. This means that they have gained control over the airspace, but that there will still be strict restrictions, says communications manager Cathrine Fuglesang Framholt in Avinor to NTB at 8.40am.

Later came the message that the error has been rectified and that the airspace is being opened gradually. But that there will be delays throughout the day.

– Priority will probably be given to flights that come from far away and are due to land, says Framholt, who among other things refers to a flight from New York to Oslo.

Had to wait

NTB spoke just after 6.30 a.m. to a passenger on a flight that was supposed to travel from Gardermoen to Zurich at 6.25 a.m., but where the pilot stated that air traffic control is down over the whole of southern Norway, and that the entire system is paralysed.

While they wait for the plane to be allowed to take off and set course for Switzerland, food and coffee are handed out to the passengers.

– We have been told that the airspace will be closed until 11 in any case. This means that we will have to cancel a number of flights, says communications advisor Eline Hyggen Skari at Norwegian to TV 2.

The rescue mission went as normal

The rescue helicopters will fly as normal on Thursday, says rescue manager Jan Erik Skorte in the main rescue center to NRK.

– If it is a question of life or death, we fly as normal – completely regardless of this, says the rescue manager.

Nothing has happened so far on Thursday morning that has led to an assignment, he says.

The Norwegian Air Ambulance will not be affected by the flight stoppage either, says press manager Per Håkon Solberg.

– We fly when we have to fly, says Solberg.

– Do as normal

Avinor confirms to NTB that the error occurred a little before 6.30.

Communications manager Cathrine Fuglesang Framholt asks passengers to travel to the airports as usual.

– Do as normal if you do not receive any other message from your airline, says Framholt.

Framholt informs Bergensavisen that there are two computer systems at the control center that did not talk to each other as they should. As a result, air traffic in southern Norway could not be managed properly, and due to safety reasons the airspace had to be closed until further notice