 Some flights have been affected following the lightning strike |
Engineers have been called in to repair a lighting mast at Kirkwall Airport in Orkney which was damaged by a "serious lightning strike". Navigation systems, runway lighting and communications were all affected and scheduled flights were cancelled or delayed on Tuesday.
A daylight only service was in operation on Wednesday as technicians worked on the repairs.
Management were hopeful the damage would be repaired quickly.
About 10 inbound and outbound flights were affected following the strike on Tuesday morning.
Paul Clarkson, general manager for airport operator Highlands and Islands Airports, said: "The situation is that yesterday morning we had a serious lightning strike which hit a lighting mast.
"As a result there was a back surge of electrical current which meant we were without the lighting system and navigational aids. We had to close the airport at official darkness.
"We advised the airlines as soon as we knew we wouldn't get the systems up and running in daylight.
"Hopefully given the time of year not that many people will have been affected."
Mr Clarkson said experts from National Air Traffic Systems would work on the navigational problems, with electrical contractors from Wick and Inverness called in to deal with the lighting system.
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