Major travel disruption has hit Birmingham Airport after a critical power failure at a National Air Traffic Services (NATS) radar site forced the suspension of all incoming flights in the early hours of Monday, 12 January 2026.
Technical Failure Grounds Arrivals
The airport confirmed that a significant technical issue, specifically a power outage affecting the NATS radar system that serves the airport, is the root cause of the chaos. The problem emerged overnight, leading to an immediate operational shutdown for inbound aircraft.
Only flights departing from Birmingham Airport are currently operating, and even these are subject to significant delays. A spokesperson for the airport stated the situation clearly, confirming that all arriving flights are suspended while engineers work to fix the problem.
Widespread Diversions and Passenger Impact
The radar failure has had an immediate knock-on effect for airlines and passengers. Multiple flights scheduled to land at Birmingham have been forced to divert to alternative airports across the region.
East Midlands Airport and Liverpool John Lennon Airport are understood to be the primary diversion points for the affected aircraft. This has left travellers facing extended journeys and considerable uncertainty, with airlines scrambling to manage the logistical fallout.
Passengers due to fly into or out of Birmingham are being urged to check directly with their airline for the latest information on their specific flight status before travelling to the airport.
Ongoing Efforts to Resolve the Crisis
Airport and NATS officials are working closely to rectify the technical fault as swiftly as possible. The airport has issued a public apology for the delays caused to customers.
The spokesperson added, "We apologise for the delay to customers, and we are working closely with NATS to rectify the issue." Updates on the situation are expected throughout the day as engineers attempt to restore full radar service and normal flight operations.
This incident underscores the vulnerability of the UK's air travel infrastructure to single points of failure, with a key national radar site causing widespread regional disruption.
