Social media has been flooded with hilarious Die Hard 2 memes as air traffic control chaos causes misery for holidaymakers.
As many as 80 per cent of flights leaving the UK are delayed following a 'huge failure' of Britain's National Air Traffic Services (NATS), where 'technical issues' have forced controllers to switch from an automatic system for landing and dispatching flights to a manual one.
And people on social media have drawn parallels between today's events and a classic flick - the Die Hard sequel.
The film sees New York cop John McClane accidentally uncover a plot to sabotage Washington's Dulles Airport's landing system.
Sharing an image of McClane smoking on X, formerly known as Twitter, one social media user said: 'Get this man on the phone.'
Sharing an image of McClane smoking on X, formerly known as Twitter, one social media user said: 'Get this man on the phone.'
While in another post, the film's antagonist Colonel William Stuart is seen holding a radio. The post is captioned: 'Anyone seen this guy lately?'
People on social media have drawn parallels between today's events and a classic flick - the Die Hard sequel
And another, which has a picture of Bruce Willis from the film, is captioned: 'Busy Bank holiday weekend and #airtrafficcontrol is down in the UK'
While in another post, the film's antagonist Colonel William Stuart is seen holding a radio. The post is captioned: 'Anyone seen this guy lately?'
The villain is the subject of another meme, with the caption: 'Breaking: NATS release image of suspect after UK air traffic control goes down.'
In another meme, there is a quote from Holly McClane, McClane's wife in the film, where she says: 'Honey, it's the 90s, remember?
'Microchips, microwaves, faxes, air phones.'
In the film, air traffic control boss Trudeau famously says 'Stack 'em, pack 'em and rack 'em, move' while under siege - which was used posted by another social media user amid the chaos.
And another, which has a picture of Bruce Willis from the film, is captioned: 'Busy Bank holiday weekend and #airtrafficcontrol is down in the UK.
'I reckon it's a DDoS attack, Russian or Chinese. Only one person can sort this mess out.'
The air traffic control 'technical issues' have led to hundreds of flights being delayed both in and out of the UK. Britons returning from Tenerife told MailOnline they had been told to expect a wait of at least 12 hours.
The villain is the subject of another meme, with the caption: 'Breaking: NATS release image of suspect after UK air traffic control goes down.'
The air traffic control 'technical issues' have led to hundreds of flights being delayed both in and out of the UK
In on post, a social media user wrote: Well done Colonel, one flights are back to normal at Heathrow, we are free and clear to fly to freedom #airtrafficcontrol'
In one post, a social media user asks: '#airtrafficcontrol not working properly, you say?' with a picture of the Die Hard 2 poster
In the film, air traffic control boss Trudeau famously says 'Stack 'em, pack 'em and rack 'em, move' while under siege - which was used posted by another social media user amid the chaos
'Technical issues' have forced air traffic controllers to switch from an automatic system for landing and dispatching flights to a manual one
The majority (78%) of flights leaving Heathrow are currently delayed, according to Flight Radar data from 1.45pm, compared to 74% at Gatwick, 81% at Manchester and 86% at Bristol.
Michele Robson, who used to work in air traffic control, said that it was 'unusual' for failures to last this long. As a result, 'nobody really knows at this point how long it's going to take,' she told BBC Radio 4.
Travel expert Simon Calder said the issue would cause 'misery' but added that holidaymakers should 'assume' their flight was operating normally unless they were told otherwise.
Contagion from the issue has already spread across Europe, causing delays for some flights leaving the Continent for the USA.
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