ATC Failure Disrupts Flights at O.R. Tambo

Johannesburg’s O.R. Tambo International Airport, Africa’s busiest aviation hub, was hit by a critical air traffic control (ATC) system failure on August 1, 2025, causing widespread departure delays for both domestic and international flights. The outage crippled the airport’s flight plan management system, disrupting major routes to London, Dubai, and New York.

The Air Traffic and Navigation Services (ATNS), South Africa’s state-run ATC operator, confirmed the technical failure and said it was working with airlines and stakeholders to restore operations and minimize disruptions. Airlines, including FlySafair and South African Airways, reported delays stretching several hours, with passengers stuck on grounded planes.

Travellers described confusion and discomfort as updates were scarce. Many only learned of the cause of delays after long waits. In response, airlines urged passengers to arrive early, allow extra time for check-in, and track flight statuses through official airline channels or the Airports Company South Africa (ACSA) app.

While the fault was resolved later in the day, normal operations resumed only after significant schedule backlogs. The incident underscores the urgent need for modernizing South Africa’s ATC infrastructure to prevent future failures that could disrupt global travel and impact the country’s tourism and business sectors.