A significant radar outage at Milan's Area Control Centre on the evening of June 28, 2025, grounded nearly 350 flights across northern Italy, impacting major airports like Malpensa, Bergamo, and Turin.

The outage was traced to a connectivity issue caused by an external telecommunications supplier, Telecom Italia (TIM), which disrupted crucial radar information and communications.

During the incident, no aircraft were visible over Northern Italy, prompting the European air traffic control agency Eurocontrol to activate emergency plans.

Technicians worked diligently to restore normal air traffic operations, achieving partial restoration by late Saturday night, but delays and cancellations persisted.

By midnight, normal flight operations were gradually resumed, yet chaos ensued at airports with overcrowded terminals and limited assistance for stranded travelers.

Local officials reported conditions at the airports as 'unacceptable,' highlighting the frustrations of passengers due to poor communication and inadequate support.

Italian Transport Minister Matteo Salvini stated he was closely monitoring the situation and maintaining communication with relevant authorities throughout the incident.

The National Civil Aviation Authority (ENAC) has launched an investigation into the radar failure to determine its causes and prevent future disruptions.

Consumer rights organizations have demanded explanations from the Ministry of Transport and criticized the reliance on a single technical system, calling for improved risk management protocols.

Passengers affected by the disruptions are advised to keep receipts for any extra expenses incurred, as airlines are obligated to reimburse reasonable costs.

This incident serves as a wake-up call for investors to focus on enhancing cybersecurity and digital infrastructure to ensure the reliability of air travel.

As investigations continue, there is a growing call for improved risk management strategies to bolster resilience against future disruptions in air travel.