Nearly 1,100 flights cancelled after UK air traffic control glitch

Almost 1,100 flights to and from UK airports were cancelled on Tuesday due to a technical issue, according to the country's air traffic control service, NATS. The aviation tracking website FlightRadar24 reported 1,055 flights had been canceled by 8pm. NATS stated the issue was resolved but expressed frustration over the backlog of flights still to be cleared.

This followed a similar glitch in July 2023, which saw hundreds of flights delayed or canceled and affected over 700,000 passengers. Major airports like Heathrow, Gatwick, Liverpool, Birmingham, and Edinburgh were hit, with Gatwick's healthcare worker Josie Donoghue describing the situation as a "nightmare." Liverpool, Birmingham, and Edinburgh airports also experienced cancellations, as did Dublin in Ireland.

British Airways alone had to cancel or divert over 100 flights, affecting tens of thousands of customers. Irish low-cost carrier Ryanair reported that more than 65,000 passengers were disrupted, with 50+ flights canceled. A Champions League match between Arsenal and Napoli was forced to cancel a press conference due to flight delays.

British transport secretary Heidi Alexander called for assurances that lessons would be learned, while Ryanair COO Neal McMahon demanded NATS CEO Martin Rolfe's dismissal, accusing him of failing UK travelers.