Former US President Donald Trump has launched a scathing attack on the Biden administration's handling of the aviation crisis, demanding immediate refunds for passengers affected by widespread flight delays and cancellations.
The extraordinary intervention comes as travellers across the UK and Europe face continued disruption following what authorities described as a "technical issue" within the UK's air traffic control systems.
Travel Chaos Across UK Airports
Holidaymakers and business travellers have faced utter chaos at major airports including Heathrow, Gatwick, and Manchester, with hundreds of flights cancelled or severely delayed. The technical fault, which occurred within National Air Traffic Services' systems, created a domino effect that disrupted travel plans for tens of thousands of passengers.
Terminals have become packed with frustrated travellers sleeping on floors, with many facing uncertainty about when they might reach their destinations. Airlines have struggled to manage the backlog, with rebooking options limited and customer service lines overwhelmed.
Trump's Demands for Passenger Compensation
In his characteristically blunt style, Trump took to social media to lambast the current administration's response to the crisis. "Crooked Joe Biden should immediately demand that all airlines issue full refunds to all passengers affected by these massive delays," the former president declared.
He continued: "This is yet another example of incompetent leadership destroying everything it touches. American travellers are suffering because of this administration's failure to ensure proper infrastructure maintenance."
Industry Response and Ongoing Challenges
Aviation experts have warned that the recovery from Monday's technical meltdown could take several days, with the ripple effects likely to be felt throughout the week. The incident has raised serious questions about the resilience of critical national infrastructure and contingency planning for such failures.
While the exact cause of the technical fault remains under investigation, industry analysts note that this represents one of the most significant disruptions to UK air travel in recent years. Passenger rights organisations have joined calls for appropriate compensation, though the unique circumstances of this incident may complicate standard claims processes.
The Department for Transport has stated that it is "working closely with NATS to understand the causes of the issue and prevent future occurrences," but many travellers remain stranded and seeking solutions.
