Hundreds of flights to and from Shanghai were delayed or canceled Monday as Chinese authorities imposed strict air traffic control measures reportedly due to military exercises — the second such near-shutdown of airspace over the metropolis in eight days.
Further interruptions are expected in the coming weeks.
The sudden restrictions have prompted frustration as well as speculation about what’s behind the mysterious controls. On Sunday, two men were arrested for spreading rumors about the July 14 delays and cancellations, the Beijing Youth Daily reported Monday.
The men reportedly posted messages on social media suggesting that the measures were part of a dragnet set up by authorities to catch a high-level official who was attempting to escape a corruption investigation. Thirty-seven other Internet users received related warnings about “fabricating rumors,” the paper said.
Aviation authorities said only that “other users” were occupying the airspace on Monday, leading to severe restrictions from 8 a.m. to noon and 3 p.m. to 7 p.m., fraying travelers’ nerves and leading to heated words between passengers and airline staff. On July 14, authorities also severely limited commercial flights to and from Shanghai between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.
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