LONDON — A technical fault in the UK’s air traffic control system disrupted over 1,000 flights at major airports on Tuesday, with Heathrow suspending arrivals and airlines warning of prolonged delays. The National Air Traffic Services (NATS) confirmed the issue in its flight data processing system had been resolved after hours of chaos, though recovery efforts continued into Wednesday.
NATS resolves system fault after hours-long disruption
The flight data processing system failure grounded flights across the UK, affecting airports including Heathrow, Gatwick, Manchester, Edinburgh, and Bristol. Heathrow Airport suspended arrivals for the remainder of Tuesday, while departures resumed with significant delays. Flight-tracking data showed 490 departures delayed at six airports by mid-afternoon, with cancellations reported by FlightAware and FlightRadar24.
NATS confirms resolution but warns of ongoing backlog
NATS stated the issue was resolved at 7:34pm local time, though recovery efforts were described as taking “longer than hoped.” CEO Martin Rolfe told Sky News that the root cause remained “not fully investigated”, with engineers working to clear a backlog of flights. The UK Civil Aviation Authority advised passengers to check with airlines for updates, noting that carriers were expected to provide food, drink, or accommodation for stranded travelers.
Airlines report severe impact on operations
Ryanair reported 65,000 passengers delayed by up to eight hours, while British Airways warned of a “significant knock-on impact” for customers and staff. EasyJet confirmed some flights were “unable to operate” due to the system failure. Icelandair initially boarded passengers for a flight to Iceland before canceling it, leaving travelers like Monique Whiting and Frank sleeping on the floor at Heathrow. Whiting described the situation as “uncomfortable”, with no nearby hotel availability.
Airports and regulators respond to the crisis
Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander said she was seeking “assurances that lessons would be learned.” The UK Civil Aviation Authority reiterated that airlines must support stranded passengers, including providing overnight accommodations where necessary. Heathrow Airport stated it was working with NATS to restore normal operations, though delays were expected to persist into Wednesday.
Background: Recurring disruptions raise infrastructure concerns
This incident follows a 2021 flight-plan processing failure that caused widespread disruption, renewing scrutiny of the UK’s aviation infrastructure. NATS handles 2.5 million flights annually, and the latest fault adds to concerns about system resilience. While NATS assured that safety was not compromised, the prolonged recovery highlighted vulnerabilities in the network.
Passengers and airlines alike expressed frustration over the lack of timely information and the slow resolution process. With flights resuming but backlogs persisting, the full impact of the disruption may unfold over the coming days.