The airspace was closed over large parts of Northern Norway – NRK Nordland

On Friday afternoon, the news came that the airspace in large parts of northern Norway was closed.

The reason is a fiber break at the network provider Telenor on Avinor’s systems from Bodø.

The faults and breaks in the fiber cables have now been found and repaired, Avinor writes in an update at 8.30pm.

– All systems have been thoroughly tested, and we can return to normal operation. We apologize for the consequences these errors have had for those who did not get where they were supposed to tonight, and to everyone else who has been affected by the lack of air traffic in Northern Norway.

Problem in Bodø

– A fiber break has been discovered from Bodø and northwards, and this affects technical equipment from Bodø and northwards. All available resources are working on the case and we have set up a central crisis team.

Avinor marketing and communications manager Cathrine Framholt told NRK.

She said there is no risk to flight safety for planes that were already in the air.

– We have systems that completely independently ensure that there is a safe winding down for the planes that are already in the air. So flight safety is not at risk.

– What should people do now? What kind of consequences does this have?

– It is too early to say, but it is good that passengers who are unsure about traveling now have to deal with the information they receive from their airline.

Not related to the problems in southern Norway

– The challenge is from Bardufoss and northwards. We are unsure of the cause, since it is so recent. We found out about it 15 minutes ago, said the airport manager in Tromsø, Ivar Helsing Schrøen, shortly after they became aware of the problems.

He said that there is nothing so far to indicate that there are the same problems that have been in the south of the country this week.

– There is nothing to indicate that it is connected with what happened in the south yesterday, no.

Telenor’s press manager, Anders Krokan, also confirmed the error.

– We have people on site working on error correction, and we hope to correct the error within a short time, he tells NRK at a quarter past four.

– Do you suspect sabotage on these fiber cables?

– There is no suspicion that this was caused by someone from outside, no. It is a matter of a technical error, says Krokan.

Julia Helena Sundström, at Tromsø Airport, was one of those who were going out to fly on Friday afternoon.

– I’m going to my sister’s and visit my aunt’s children. It is important to me. It would have been crazy if I didn’t get there today.

More settings

Widerøe previously informed NRK that they had several canceled departures on Friday.

– For now, we have scheduled departures to Hammerfest, Honningsvåg and Alta. In addition, we have a setting from Tromsø to Trondheim, said press officer in Widerøe Lina Lindegaard Carlsen.

The affected passengers were contacted and rebooked to the nearest possible flight departure.

– If you have not received any notice from the airline, you must show up at the airport as normal. We don’t know how long this will last, she said.