13 planes vanish from radars over Europe

13 planes vanish from radars over Europe

As many as 13 planes flying over Europe vanish from radar screens in an "unprecedented" series of blackouts that lasted 25 minutes with claims air traffic control could have been hacked

An air-safety investigation has been launched after 13 planes flying over Europe disappeared from radar screens in two "unprecedented" blackouts, leading to reports stating air traffic control systems had been hacked. 

The aircraft went missing from screens across the region in early June, leaving air traffic controllers with no information about their position, direction and height – instead relying on voice communication alone. 

Air traffic control centres in Austria, southern Germany, the Czech Republic and Slovakia all reported the same problem with each period of interference lasting around 25 minutes but varying from flight to flight. 

Marcus Pohanka, from Austro Control, described the incidents, which occurred on June 5 and June 10 as "unprecedented," although the authorities stressed that all the aircraft involved continued with their flights as normal.