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Lightning strike disrupts flights at Stansted
Passengers using Stansted faced cancellations and delays of up to 20 hours over the Bank Holiday weekend after a lightning strike knocked out the airport’s aircraft refueling system.
More than 30 flights to and from Heathrow were also cancelled because of poor visibility as thunderstorms swept across the UK and parts of Europe.
Around 100 flights were cancelled at Stansted on Sunday and delays continued into Bank Holiday Monday, according to the Independent.
Amongst the worst-affected were passengers flying with Ryanair, Jet2 and Thomas Cook. Jet2 had flights from Larnaca and Rhodes delayed by 19 hours while two Thomas Cook flights from Turkey arrived around 20 hours late.
Some departures were cancelled altogether while some arriving aircraft were diverted to other airports.
Stansted confirmed the disruption was caused by a lightning strike that affected its aircraft refuelling system. It said the system had since been restored.
Passengers have been warned to expect further delays tomorrow when Greece’s air traffic controllers are due to walk out on strike, and on June 8 when Italy’s air traffic controllers are planning a day of action.
Linsey McNeill
Editor Linsey McNeill has been writing about travel for more than three decades. Bylines include The Times, Telegraph, Observer, Guardian and Which? plus the South China Morning Post. She also shares insider tips on thetraveljournalist.co.uk
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