Nearly 1,100 UK flights cancelled after air traffic control glitch triggers nationwide disruption
LONDON, Sept 9 — Almost 1,100 flights to and from UK airports were cancelled yesterday due to what the country&rsq...
Almost 1,100 flights to and from UK airports were cancelled on September 8, 2026, due to a technical issue at the country’s air traffic control service, NATS. By 8pm GMT, 1,055 flights had been cancelled, according to the flight tracking website FlightRadar24. NATS acknowledged the system issue was resolved but expressed frustration over the backlog of delayed flights.
This was the latest in a series of glitches causing travel chaos in the UK. The 2023 air traffic failure saw over 700,000 passengers affected. Heathrow Airport, Britain's busiest, along with Gatwick, Liverpool, Birmingham, Edinburgh, and Dublin airports, were impacted. British Airways had to cancel or divert over 100 flights, affecting tens of thousands of customers.
Irish carrier Ryanair reported over 65,000 passengers disrupted, canceling more than 50 flights. The UK Transport Secretary sought assurances for improved aviation systems, while Ryanair's COO demanded NATS CEO Martin Rolfe's resignation, accusing him of repeatedly failing UK travellers.
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