A major technical glitch in the UK's air traffic control system has thrown travel plans into chaos, with flights at Gatwick, Birmingham, and other key airports facing significant disruptions. Thousands of passengers have been left stranded as airlines scramble to adjust schedules following the system failure.
What Happened?
The issue, which emerged early Tuesday morning, affected the National Air Traffic Services (NATS) systems responsible for managing flight paths across UK airspace. While the exact cause remains under investigation, the fault triggered cascading delays and forced airlines to cancel dozens of flights as a precaution.
Affected Airports
The disruption hit some of Britain's busiest travel hubs hardest:
- London Gatwick: Over 50 flights cancelled, with delays exceeding 3 hours on some routes
- Birmingham Airport: Significant backlog developing as departures are held
- Other regional airports: Knock-on effects being felt nationwide
Passenger Impact
Terminals quickly became crowded as frustrated travellers sought information about their flights. Many reported being given minimal notice about cancellations, while others found themselves stuck on planes awaiting clearance to depart.
"We were literally about to push back when they told us there was a problem," said one passenger at Gatwick. "Now we're being told it could be hours before we get another slot."
Industry Response
Airlines have activated their disruption protocols, with many offering passengers the option to rebook or claim refunds. NATS has assured the public that engineers are working to resolve the issue, but could not provide a definitive timeline for full system restoration.
The incident comes during peak summer travel season, compounding challenges for an industry still recovering from pandemic-related staffing shortages.
