UK rules out cyberattack after major flight disruptions

UK National Air Traffic Services (NATS) CEO Martin Rolfe dismissed the possibility of a cyberattack following significant disruptions to flight operations at British airports on Tuesday. The issue, which began early Tuesday morning and lasted several hours, resulted in nearly 2,000 flights being cancelled or delayed. The problem was linked to an issue with the flight processing system, but despite being resolved, it led to additional cancellations and delays on Wednesday.

London's Heathrow Airport indicated that some disruption may continue as airlines reposition aircraft and crew, advising travelers to check their flight status before arriving at the airport.

Travel journalist Simon Calder warned that dozens of cancellations were expected in the morning of flights arriving at Heathrow, as the previously scheduled flights did not depart due to the issue. The UK's Transport Secretary, Heidi Alexander, summoned Rolfe to discuss the cause of the malfunction, highlighting concerns over the UK's air traffic network.

This incident is not the first major system failure to affect British airports; in August 2023, several flights were cancelled due to a system meltdown, costing airlines $135 million. In 2025, flight radar problems also impacted several UK airports, including Heathrow.

In response to the latest incident, Alexander is seeking assurances that lessons will be learned and that air traffic support systems are up to the task. Ryanair, Europe's largest airline, reported that at least 150,000 passengers using its services faced delays of up to eight hours, with 200 flights cancelled. The airline demanded that NATS CEO Rolfe resign, a request Rolfe acknowledged accepting full responsibility for but did not confirm if he would step down.

NATS operates air traffic control services for 15 UK airports, including British Airways, easyJet, pension funds, and the government.