A radar-related technical fault in the UK’s air traffic control system caused widespread disruption on Wednesday, leading to the cancellation of over 100 flights and lengthy delays across major airports, including Heathrow, Gatwick, Manchester, Birmingham, Cardiff, Edinburgh, and London City.
The issue, identified by the National Air Traffic Services (NATS), temporarily halted all departures at key hubs. Though resolved within 20 minutes by switching to a backup system, the glitch triggered a domino effect of cancellations and delays that extended for hours, stranding thousands of passengers.
In a statement, NATS confirmed that its systems were “fully operational” and air traffic capacity was gradually stabilising. The agency apologised for the inconvenience and acknowledged the broader impact on air travel.
Budget carrier Ryanair was among the hardest hit. According to local media, the airline faced more than four hours of operational chaos and criticised NATS for its handling of the situation. CEO Neal McMahon demanded the resignation of NATS chief executive Martin Rolfe, stating, “It is outrageous that passengers are once again being hit with delays and disruption. It is clear that no lessons have been learnt since the August 2023 NATS system outage.”
The August 2023 incident had similarly caused mass disruptions and raised questions about the resilience of the UK’s air traffic control infrastructure.
Airports and airlines have advised passengers to check with their carriers before travelling, as recovery operations are expected to continue into the evening.
(IANS)