Air traffic control over Austria was halted for almost three days this weekend, and a ‘Krone’ report revealed the hole in the country’s defences. Now the guilt begins.
Exactly on the weekend when Russia attacked Ukraine with drone strikes – the next one took place 420 km from the Austrian border – the Eurofighters were resting: as the “Krone” reported, due to the shortage of staff at the air traffic controllers in Zeltweg, all operational readiness was cancelled, the airspace above Austria was unprotected from Friday afternoon until Monday morning. Numerous readers subsequently expressed their dissatisfaction on the krone.at forum.
Ministries blame each other
The Defense Ministry said its air traffic controllers were in direct competition with civil aviation, where salary levels were significantly higher. Werner Kogler’s BMKÖS, which is responsible for the public service, had blocked salary increases, it was said. They did not want to know anything about the accusations on Sunday: “In recent years, the drastic nature of this situation has not been discussed in any conversation by the BMLV,” a ministry spokeswoman told the ‘Krone’. But they are willing to discuss to find a solution.
About 50 alarm starts per year
At Zeltweg, the country’s only jet base, no Eurofighter alarm takeoffs could take place this weekend because there were too few air traffic controllers left to carry out their duties. These should actually be on standby every day of the year, so that Eurofighters can take off within minutes if there are unknown aircraft in the airspace or if there is a loss of communication. These types of operations take place about 50 times a year.
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
