'Technical issue' cripples much of Swedish air traffic

COPENHAGEN, Denmark (AP) - Swedish officials say "a technical problem" is affecting air traffic control operations in Sweden - the second such issue in two weeks to hit the Scandinavian nation.

Airports operator Swedavia said Saturday that the glitch was affecting major Swedish airports, including those in Stockholm and Goteborg and Malmo, Sweden's two largest cities. The problem is causing delays of up to one hour because arrivals and departures are being handled manually.

Civil Aviation Administration spokesman Per Froberg told Swedish broadcaster SVT that his agency believes the error was in Sweden "but we are not sure."

On May 19, an unidentified glitch affected air traffic control operations in large parts of Sweden, barring planes from taking off for 90 minutes. The cause of that problem has still not been found.