A major technical failure in the UK's air traffic control systems has triggered chaos at Heathrow Airport, leaving thousands of passengers facing severe delays and cancellations.
What Happened?
The National Air Traffic Services (NATS) confirmed a significant systems issue earlier today, forcing controllers to switch to manual processing of flight plans. This has led to a drastic reduction in the number of aircraft that can safely take off and land.
Impact on Travel
Heathrow, the UK's busiest airport, has been hit hardest, with:
- Long queues at check-in and security
- Multiple flight cancellations
- Average delays exceeding 3 hours
- Knock-on effects expected throughout the day
Passenger Advice
Airport officials are urging travellers to:
- Check flight status before heading to the airport
- Allow extra time for journeys
- Contact airlines for rebooking options
- Monitor official Heathrow updates
NATS engineers are working to resolve the issue, but warn that full recovery may take several hours. The disruption comes during peak summer travel season, exacerbating the impact on holidaymakers.
