Bristol Airport closed after thunderstorm damages air traffic communications systems

Bristol Airport closed on Tuesday after a thunderstorm damaged air traffic communications systems, grounding arrivals and departures while engineers investigated the fault.

The airport said lightning strikes had affected both its primary and backup systems, forcing it to suspend operations and disrupting travel for hundreds of passengers. Travellers were advised to contact their airline for flight-specific information.

What happened

The shutdown came after an electrical storm moved across parts of the UK, bringing heavy rain and thunderstorms during a wider spell of severe weather.

Earlier reports said the airport had remained closed after a storm damaged air traffic control systems. Later reporting, including comments attributed to the airport, said lightning had hit communications equipment used to manage flight operations.

Travel disruption

The closure led to cancellations and diversions, with passengers left waiting for updates while engineers assessed the damage.

Bristol Airport is a major regional airport serving southwest England, so the disruption was likely to affect not only scheduled flights but also onward travel plans across the region.

The key unanswered question is how long the closure will last. The airport had not given a timetable for reopening as engineers continued their investigation.

Passengers due to travel through Bristol on Tuesday were being told to check directly with their airline for the latest flight status.