dj6 it's not a new excuse. A BA crew used it at Aberdeen back in the late 70s to explain why they were late. Unfortunately for them the head of CAA/NATS was onboard &, when he got back to Heathrow, investigated the claim. He found it was nonsense, & the Captain of the flight was disciplined. Or, so the story went.
No, it's not new - it's as old as the hills.